Assessment of sociodemographic characteristics including employment, income and usual residence of European patients with schizophrenia: results from the Star study

Abstract

Background and aims:

To assess sociodemographic characteristics, including education, usual residence, employment status and income among schizophrenia patients in Europe.

Methods:

The Client Sociodemographic and Service Receipt Inventory was evaluated in schizophrenia patients treated with aripiprazole versus standard of care (SoC). 555 patients were equally randomized to aripiprazole (10-30 mg/day) or SoC (olanzapine 5-20 mg/day, or quetiapine 100-800 mg/day or risperidone 2-8 mg/day, [up to 16 mg/day]) for 26 weeks.

Results:

At baseline, 67% of the patients were single, 15% married and 12% widowed. The average years of education was 11.2: 24% of the patients received primary education or less, 50% secondary education; 21% further education and only 8% reached university. Of this population, 35% lived alone, 33% lived with relatives other than parents, and 14% lived with their husband/wife. More patients in the aripiprazole than the SoC group were employed (18.5% vs. 19. 9%), while a similar proportion were unemployed (28.8% vs. 25.8%). Among the patients who work (n=105), only two have a managerial position: 35% of patients are on a state pension. The main income source across all countries was state benefit and pension (74%). Only 15% of patients had an effective salary. During the 3 months prior to baseline, patients missed ~18.5 days (50%) from work due to illness.

Conclusions:

Despite improvements in the management of psychosis with second-generation antipsychotics, the social and rehabilitation aspects of schizophrenia warrant further attention.