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The following is a summary of “Long-Term Course of Remission and Recovery in Psychotic Disorders,” published in the May 2024 issue of Psychiatry by Tramazzo et al.
Understanding how psychotic disorders progress is crucial for public health planning and individual care. However, uncertainty surrounds the long-term outcomes of remission and recovery.
Researchers conducted a prospective study identifying the typical paths of illness over 25 years for individuals admitted for psychosis.
They used data from the Suffolk County Mental Health Project, tracking first-admission psychosis. Six follow-ups were conducted, with 311 individuals assessed at the 25-year mark. Remission and recovery patterns were analyzed from the initial 591 participants and those from the 25-year follow-up.
The results showed that in both the baseline and 25-year follow-up group, most people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders didn’t achieve remission or recovery. Those with other psychotic disorders often had intermittent remission and recovery. Stable remission was seen in 15.1% and stable recovery in 21.1% of these patients but was rare in schizophrenia cases (0% and 0.6%).
Investigators concluded that people with other psychoses often move in and out of recovery phases, benefiting from long-term healthcare plans. However, sustained recovery is rare for those with schizophrenia, highlighting the need for better treatments for this group.
Source: ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.20230189