Psychiatry Investig.  2011 Mar;8(1):22-29.

Factors Affecting Treatment Discontinuation and Treatment Outcome in Patients with Schizophrenia in Korea: 10-Year Follow-Up Study

• Jung SH
• Kim WH
• Choi HJ
• Kang MH
• Lee JS
• Bae JN
• Kim CE

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
There have been few long-term studies that have assessed factors influencing treatment discontinuation and long-term outcome of schizophrenia in Korea. The present study aimed to evaluate factors affecting treatment discontinuation and treatment outcome, after 10 years, in patients with schizophrenia.
METHODS
Among hospitalized patients between 1997 and 1999, 191 patients were given continuous follow-up service. We examined the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients who remained in treatment. Regression analyses were used to find any clinical factors affecting treatment discontinuation.
RESULTS
One hundred thirty-three patients (71.12%) discontinued the treatment. The treatment retention group contained more female patients, paranoid-type patients, patients who had shown self-harming behavior, patients receiving clozapine, and patients with good medication compliance. The recovery rate was 25%. However, 42.3% did not have gainful employment. Further, most patients couldn't live independently.
CONCLUSION
The results show the importance of gender, patient behavior, medication, and medication compliance in predicting treatment discontinuation in patients with schizophrenia.

Keyword

Schizophrenia; Long-term; Follow-up; Outcome; Treatment; Discontinuation

MeSH Terms

Clozapine
Employment
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Korea
Medication Adherence
Retention (Psychology)
Schizophrenia
Treatment Outcome
Clozapine