Response and remission in schizophrenic subjects

This naturalistic study investigates in detail symptom reduction during acute inpatient treatment (response), long-term symptom improvement in the post-acute phase (remission) and the rate of re-hospitalisations. A total of 183 patients were enrolled. Criteria for response were PANSS total score and syndrome reductions of 20, 30, 40 and 50%. Remission criteria employed were based on recommendations from Andreasen et al. The average length of stay was 45.6 days (SD 42.7). PANSS total score response rates were found to be 63.9% for the 20% level and were reduced in the following consecutive levels by approximately 15%. Only 10.3% of the patients remitted during a 1-year follow-up period. At least one re-hospitalisation was reported for 43.9% of the subjects. Compared to previous randomised and controlled trials, the rates of response and remission are significantly lower. In daily inpatient care, the chronic course of schizophrenia is far commoner than expected from previous reports.