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Five-year outcome of clinical recovery and subjective well-being in older Dutch patients with schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 August 2021

Paul D. Meesters*
Affiliation:
Department of Research and Education, Friesland Mental Health Services, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
Sjors M. M. Lange
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Lex Wunderink
Affiliation:
Rob Giel Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Max L. Stek
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Didi Rhebergen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Paul D. Meesters, GGZ Friesland, Sixmastraat 1, 8932 PA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. Email: [email protected].

Abstract

Outcome of schizophrenia in later life can be evaluated from different perspectives. The recovery concept has moved forward this evaluation, discerning clinical-based and patient-based definitions. Longitudinal data on measures of recovery in older individuals with schizophrenia are scant. This study evaluated the five-year outcome of clinical recovery and subjective well-being in a sample of 73 older Dutch schizophrenia patients (mean age 65.9 years; SD 5.4), employing a catchment-area based design that included both community living and institutionalized patients regardless of the age of onset of their disorder. At baseline (T1), 5.5% of participants qualified for clinical recovery, while at five-year follow-up (T2), this rate was 12.3% (p = 0.18; exact McNemar’s test). Subjective well-being was reported by 20.5% of participants at T1 and by 27.4% at T2 (p = 0.27; exact McNemar’s test). Concurrence of clinical recovery and subjective well-being was exceptional, being present in only one participant (1.4%) at T1 and in two participants (2.7%) at T2. Clinical recovery and subjective well-being were not correlated neither at T1 (p = 0.82; phi = 0.027) nor at T2 (p = 0.71; phi = −0.044). There was no significant correlation over time between clinical recovery at T1 and subjective well-being at T2 (p = 0.30; phi = 0.122) nor between subjective well-being at T1 and clinical recovery at T2 (p = 0.45; phi = −0.088). These results indicate that while reaching clinical recovery is relatively rare in older individuals with schizophrenia, it is not a prerequisite to experience subjective well-being.

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
© International Psychogeriatric Association 2021

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