Predictors of short – and long-term clinical outcome in schizophrenic psychosis – the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort study

• Published in: European Psychiatry
• Main Authors: Juola, P., Miettunen, J., Veijola, J., Isohanni, M., Jääskeläinen, E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2013
• Subjects: Northern Finland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2011.11.001; https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0924933811001787?httpAccept=text/xml; https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0924933811001787?httpAccept=text/plain; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S092493380019296X

Abstract Objective: Since the outcome in schizophrenia is heterogeneous and often poor, identification of specific predictors of outcome would be useful in clinical practice. Methods: Subjects with schizophrenic psychoses ( n = 103) included in the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort ( n = 12,058), representing the general population, were followed-up for an average of 16.4 years. Predictor and outcome data were collected from the nationwide Finnish Hospital Discharge Register, hospital records and interviews. Results: Insidious onset of illness predicted a rehospitalization due to psychosis in the 2 years after the initial discharge. Being single, having an early onset, insidious onset, suicidal ideations upon the first admission, a rehospitalization and a high number of treatment days due to psychosis in the early stages of the illness all predicted a poorer clinical outcome in the longer term, after a minimum follow-up of 10 years. Conclusions: This population-based study indicates that clinical and sociodemographic factors around the onset of illness have significance for the long-term outcome in schizophrenia. These prognostic factors should be taken into account in clinical practice.