MAINTENANCE ANTIPSYCHOTIC PHARMACOTHERAPY, RELAPSE, AND LENGTH OF STAY OUT OF THE HOSPITAL IN CHRONIC SCHIZOPHRENICS IN GREECE

A retrospective study of 820 rehospitalizations of chronic schizophrenics in Greece showed no significant difference in the discharge-rehospitalization, discharge-relapse, and relapse-rehospitalization time intervals, between the patients who continued to receive their medication after discharge regularly, and the patients who discontinued their medication upon discharge.Furthermore, there seemed to be an increased social adaptability or tolerance of the psychotic behavior of the patients who had discontinued their medication, suggested by their longer relapse-rehospitalization time interval.