Outlook for Schizophrenia
When people with schizophrenia are followed up 10-30 years later, their level of functioning can be categorised as Excellent (minimal disturbance), Fair or Poor (unremitting illness and/or inability to function independently). The following graph from the International Study of Schizophrenia (WHO) shows the outcomes for 1633 people with schizophrenia, incorporating both developed and developing countries.
Poor prognostic factors include:
- Period of time spent experiencing psychotic symptoms in the 1st 2 years
- Insidious onset
- Early age of onset
- Abnormal premorbid personality
- Social isolation
- Poor compliance