Recovery from schizophrenic psychosis.

Knowledge of changes in patients' symptoms during hospitalization is crucial in planning treatment for acute psychotic exacerbation of chronic schizophrenia. Biweekly assessment of symptoms in 44 schizophrenic patients during the first 4 weeks of hospitalization showed that rapid recovery from psychotic symptoms occurred early in hospitalization; recovery from depression and anxiety was less complete. The rapid recovery in the first few weeks of hospital treatment supports the use of brief hospitalization for psychotic relapse. It is important to focus follow-up treatment on patients' relative lack of recovery in the hospital from depression and anxiety.