Symptom reduction and functional recovery in persons with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder: A follow-up study

Pages: 24-28
Gobinda Majhi (Department of PSW, NIMHANS, Bengaluru, Karnataka)
Prasanta Kumar Chakraborty (Department of Psychiatry, Ex-director, RINPAS, Kanke Ranchi, Jharkhand)
Paras Kumar Choudhary (Department of Socioloy, Ranchi University, Ranchi, Jharkhand)

There is a considerable interest regarding the symptom reduction and functional recovery in schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder which are considredred severe mental disorders. However, both long and short-term follow-up studies revealed considerable heterogeneity in this regard. This is a follow-up study assessed and compared the factors influencing the symptom reduction and functional recovery between schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. Patients with an ICD-10 diagnosis of schizophrenia (n=50) and bipolar affective disorders (n =50) were recruited in the study through purposive sampling technique. The OPD based training program was offered to both the group to improve functionality. All the patients were assessed at baseline and at the end of two-year follow-up with Present State Examination and Disability Assessment Scale to examine symptom status and functional outcome, respectively. At the end of a two-year follow-up, 37 patients with schizophrenia and 38 patients with bipolar affective disorder reported for evaluation, out of which 21.8% patients with schizophrenia and 31.5% patients with bipolar affective disorders have completely remitted. Clinical variables, comorbid illness(substance abuse, anxiety) and psychosocial (stigma,socialsupport) factors were common to those who remitted in both groups. Specific association was noted between socio-cultural conditions such as education, occupation and living condition, family support and early intervention both pharmacological and psycho-social intervention with the recovery of both conditions. There are several psychosocial factors associated with the symptom reduction and functional recovery among persons with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorders.