Factors affecting relapse in schizophrenia.

96 first episode schizophrenic patients were included for a prospective follow-up study on factors affecting course and outcome of schizophrenia. Feighner's diagnostic criteria were used for inclusion and a yearly assessment was made using the Present State Examination and the Personal and Psychiatric History Schedule. At the end of 3 years, 64 patients had been followed up. Of these, 38 patients had one or more relapses. A comparison of the relapsing group with the non-relapsers revealed certain variables to be significantly associated with relapses. Some of these were regularity of follow-up, presence of affective symptoms and self-neglect and lack of social contacts. The importance of recognising these factors in order to prevent relapses in schizophrenia is discussed.