How do men with schizophrenia fare at work? A follow-up study from India.

Occupational activity, an indicator of the functional status of an individual, is a major component in the long-term management of schizophrenia. The work functioning of 40 first-episode male schizophrenic patients was assessed prospectively every year over a period of 10 years. The comprehensive evaluation of occupational outcome measured in terms of duration of employment, quality of work done, and level of earned income was good in 53% of the patients, comparable to figures from developed countries. This outcome was not related to many of the socio-demographic and clinical variables but was strongly associated with overall clinical, social and marital outcome. The educational and economic status of the study group, the type of work available to them, and the compelling need for men to be the wage-earners in the Indian situation are discussed as influencing the findings of the study.