Symptomatic remission and functional recovery in outpatients with Schizophrenia

The present study was conducted to examine the rates of symptomatic remission, the level of community functioning; and to assess functional recovery in a sample of chronic schizophrenia out-patients; to compare recovered versus nonrecovered patients according to demographic and clinical variables; and to identify predictive factors for recovery. Results indicate that 48.4% (n=92) patients fulfilled the criteria of symptomatic remission. The level of social functioning according to the mean GAF score of was 60.3 (S.D.=8.7). Considering the four criteria to attain recovery; 48.4% (n=92) patients met the criteria of symptomatic remission, followed by 46.3% (n=88) who met the criteria of vocational functioning, 26.3% (n=50) for peer relationships, and independent living was met by only 23.7% (n=45) of the sample. From these four criteria, a total of 10.5% (n=20) of the patients were considered to attained functional recovery as they met the required criteria. Functioning was higher in recovered patients with a GAF of 72.2 compared to a GAF of 58.8 in non-recovered patients. The logistic regression model included 2 predictors for recovery: 1) increased age of illness onset (>23years old) and, 2) better functioning according to a higher GAF score (>60 points). The results of this study indicate that symptomatic remission and functional recovery can be attainable goals in Mexican patients with schizophrenia. Abstract