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Key message: Relapses, characterized by acute psychotic exacerbation, can have a negative impact on psychosocial functioning.
Background
- Review article examining the evidence for illness progression after relapse in patients with schizophrenia.
- Reports on indirect evidence obtained from retrospective, naturalistic, and brain-imaging studies, as well as a few prospective studies examining pre- and post-relapse treatment response.
- Findings suggest that the treatment response after relapse is variable, with many patients responding rapidly, while others exhibit protracted impairment of response and a subgroup displays emergent refractoriness.
- Relapses, characterized by acute psychotic exacerbation, may have serious psychosocial implications — in addition to the risk of self-harm and harm to others, relapses may cause patients and families distress, jeopardize friendships and relationships, disrupt education or employment, diminish personal autonomy, contribute to stigma, and add to the economic burden of treating schizophrenia.
Reference:
Emsley R, et al. Schizophr Res. 2013; 148(1–3): 117–121.