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A functional comparison of patients with schizophrenia between the North and South of Europe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2020

L. Helldin ,
R. Cavallaro  and
S. Galderisi
L. Helldin*
Affiliation:
Department of psychiatry, NU-Health Care Hospital, 46185Trollhattan, Sweden Department of Psychology, Karlstad University, 65188Karlstad, Sweden
R. Cavallaro
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences San Raffaele Universitary Scientific Institute Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina, 20132Milan, Italy
S. Galderisi
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Largo Madonna delle Grazie, 80123Naples, Italy
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected]
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Abstract

Introduction

The main objective of this study was to compare clinical and functional outcomes of patients with schizophrenia in Italy and Sweden with a special focus on daily functioning performance and real life milestones. Also, to study if outcome is to be regarded as a consequence of premorbid function, the level of symptom control and functional capacity or if other influences, such as cultural differences, must parallel be considered.

Method

Ninety-five patients from three centres, Milan and Naples in Italy and Trollhattan in Sweden were investigated. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment - Brief version were used together with patients’ school history and their status of accommodation and occupation.

Results

Patients in Trollhattan were more likely to live independently and patients in Naples to have a work or take part in education. Differences in symptoms and the performance test were present but subtle.

Discussion

Differences in real life milestones were not explained by corresponding differences in symptoms, premorbid function or the performance-based test. It is therefore not appropriate only to present functional outcome as an expression of how successful treatment has been.

Keywords

SchizophreniaPerformance assessmentCultural influence
Type
Original articles
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 27 , Issue 6 , August 2012 , pp. 442 - 444
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2012

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