The Influence of Psychosocial Dysfunctions in Chronic Schizophrenia Patients in Remission: A Hospital-Based Study

Abstract

Background: Psychosocial dysfunctions in the various psychosocial areas in chronic schizophrenic patients predict the long-term course, outcome, and quality of life of these patients, which always varies with years of treatment.

Objective: To know the influence and compare the level of psychosocial dysfunctions and severity of disability burden in chronic schizophrenic patients who are in remission with duration of 5 and 20 years.

Materials and methods: The sample was collected from the OPD of Mental Health Institute (COE), S.C.B. Medical College, Cuttack, Odisha, India. This study is a cross-sectional study. A total of 120 remitted schizophrenic patients (60 patients of each group with duration of 5 and 20 years), who fulfilled Nancy Andreasen criteria for Remission were selected for the study. Regional language of dysfunction analysis questionnaire (DAQ) was used to assess the level of psychosocial dysfunctions in personal, familial, social, vocational, and cognitive areas of each patient.

Results: Qualitative data were analyzed using Chi-square and quantitative data were analyzed using t-test and correlation as a test of significance. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were found in all five domains of DAQ between two groups. Statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) was found between the two groups with respect to severity of the disability.

Conclusion: This study confirms that there are definite and substantial psychosocial dysfunctions in personal, familial, social, vocational, and cognitive spheres with the advancement of the duration of illness in chronic schizophrenic patients.

Keywords: Chronic schizophrenia; National Classification of Occupation 2004; disability; dysfunction analysis questionnaire; psychosocial dysfunction.