1915 – Social Risk Factors In The Evolution Of Schizophrenia - Try To a New Assessment

Abstract

Introduction

Social, family and environment factors significantly influence the evolution of schizophrenia, earning a place in compliance and adherence to treatment. Tools considered valid in assessment of correlation between risk of schizophrenia and social stressors can demonstrate their limits.

Material and methods

Retrospective-prospective clinical trial on 81 patients diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, admitted in Craiova Mental Health Center (July 1^st 2007 - June 30^th 2012). We assess social stress using Social Stress Indicators (SSI) (Lloyd et al., 1995) and personal and social functioning using Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP) (Morosini et al., 2000).

Results

The study group included 48 women (59.26%) and 33 males (40.74%), average age 45.36±8.50 years, average age of onset of disease 25.78±7.38 years and a median of evolution 18.96±8.97 years. SSI scores reveals the presence and intensity of social stress, average scores 99.89±18.24 (101.67±16.88 males, 98.67±19.20 women) correlated with unfavorable evolution. Aggressiveness (69.14%) and suicidal behavior (7.40%) was precipitated by acute stressors, confirming the common root of Cloninger behavior and social stress theory of depression (Turner). The relationship between social and genetic factors supports the diathesis model of schizophrenia. PSP scores (37.22±8.75) decrease in the presence of aggressiveness and suicidal behavior.

Conclusions

Inversion affection for mother, feeling of stolen social independence, manipulating of material and social action through mechanisms of delirium were independent factors for social stress. In schizophrenia, the high level of stress is dependent on the degree of remission and relationship between patient, family and society.