FACTORS AFFECTING REHOSPITALIZATION RATES OF CHRONIC-SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENTS LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY

Eight patients selected from a depot neuroleptic clinic in the hospital outpatients department were assessed clinically on various demographic and clinical variables with a view to determining the factors that may contribute to high rates of rehospitalisation amongst schizophrenics in remission. It was found that rehospitalisation rates during the preceding 5 years correlated with an early age of onset of illness, severity of positive and affective symptoms, current neuroleptic dose and total AIMS score, all reflecting the severity of underlying psychotic disorder and the neuroleptic treatment required to treat the psychosis. Poor compliance with neuroleptic prophylaxis was not found to be of importance in contributing to high relapse rates in this sample. It was concluded that patients who repeatedly relapse may do so because of the clinical characteristics of their illness.