Accomplishments
A study of recovery and its variables in patients with schizophrenia
- Abstract
Background: Recovery orientation to psychiatric illness views that the patient is more than a sum of his symptoms. There is a great paucity of studies on recovery in schizophrenia in India. Aim: With this goal in mind this study was undertaken to study (1) the socio demographic profile of the sample and their relation with stages of recovery of schizophrenia, (2) the relationship between socio-occupational functioning and stages of recovery and to assess the relationship between stages of recovery and symptomatology. Methods: Study was conducted in Psychiatric outpatient department in general teaching hospital, on patients diagnosed as chronic schizophrenia. Semi-structured proforma, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Stages of Recovery Instrument (STORI) and Social and Occupational Functioning Scale (SOFAS) were used.In our study, 37 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were included. Results: This study did not find any significant correlation between demographical variables and the stages of recovery. Stage of moratorium of STORI had significant positive correlation with all subscales of PANSS while stages of awareness, preparation and rebuilding and growth of STORI had significant negative correlation with all subscales of PANSS. Stage of preparation and growth had significant positive correlation with SOFAS while stage of moratorium had significant negative correlation with SOFAS. Thus each stage of recovery in schizophrenia had significant correlation with the level of functioning in our study. Conclusion: This clearly indicates that there is a significant relationship between psychopathological symptoms and the person’s ability to pursue the path of recovery.