The Therapeutic Factors Affecting Post-discharge Course of Schizophrenia Patients in a University Hospital

ABSTRACT

OBJECT: To evaluate how the therapeutic factors affect post-discharge course of patients with schizophrenia, we analyzed relationship between each therapeutic factor and outcome of inpatients with schizophrenia in Hanyang University Hospital. METHODS: This study is a retrospective report. Subjects were schizophrenic inpatients who were discharged from Hanyang University Hospital from January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2004. We obtained demographic and clinical data from review of inpatient and outpatient charts. RESULTS: We analyzed the records of 104 patients with schizophrenia(44 males and 60 females). Patients who had longer first admission days have fewer number of readmission. There were no significant correlation between psychiatric rehabilitation and course of schizophrenia. Courses, such as duration of outpatient department follow-up and number and duration of rehospitalization, did not differ according to the existence of extrapyramidal symptoms or types of antipsychotics prescribed. CONCLUSION: Among the therapeutic factors, longer duration of the first admission only affected better post-discharge course of patients with schizophrenia.