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- Title
Functioning in early and late stages of schizophrenia.
- Authors
Gazzi Costa, Leonardo; Massuda, Raffael; Pedrini, Mariana; Cavalcante Passos, Ives; Sanguinetti Czepielewski, Leticia; Brietzke, Elisa; Gama, Clarissa S.
- Abstract
Introduction: Schizophrenia is frequently associated with a debilitating course and prominent impairment in social and occupational functioning. Although the criteria for classification into stages have not been defined in the literature, illness duration and functioning seem to be good candidates. Objective: To compare functioning of patients with schizophrenia at different stages of the disease (early vs. late) and healthy sexand age-matched controls. Methods: This double-blinded, case-controlled study included 79 individuals: 23 patients with schizophrenia diagnosed up to 5 years earlier; 19 patients with schizophrenia diagnosed at least 20 years earlier; and healthy matched controls. Diagnoses were established using the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) Axis I Disorder. Functioning was assessed using the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST). Results: Patients in the early stage had significantly higher scores than healthy controls in total FAST and in autonomy, occupational functioning, cognitive functioning and interpersonal relationships. Individuals in the late stage had significantly poorer functioning than controls in all domains. The comparison of functioning between the two groups of patients revealed no significant differences, except in occupational functioning, in which late stage patients had a poorer performance. Conclusion: Functioning impairment in schizophrenia tends to remain stable despite illness duration. Therefore, functioning should be effectively assessed at an early stage, as illness duration alone may not be the most reliable criterion to stage patients with schizophrenia.
- Subjects
SCHIZOPHRENIA treatment; SOCIAL skills; DISEASE progression; PSYCHOSES; PSYCHIATRIC treatment; COGNITION
- Publication
Trends in Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, 2014, Vol 36, Issue 4, p209
- ISSN
2237-6089
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1590/2237-6089-2014-0028