BACKGROUND: Self-esteem may be associated with a wide range of psychiatric disorders, including psychotic disorders. However, the relationship between self-esteem and outcome in psychosis has not been adequately examined, especially early in the course of the illness. AIM: The aim of the study was to examine the impact of self-esteem in individuals who presented for treatment of a first episode of psychosis on outcome early in the course of the illness. METHODS: The Self-Esteem Rating Scale (SERS) was administered to 121 individuals with first-episode psychosis following entry into a specialized programme. Symptoms and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) were assessed at six months after beginning treatment. A correlational analysis was followed by a linear regression controlling for potential confounds. RESULTS: Self-esteem assessed early in the course of treatment was positively correlated with GAF at six months (r = 0.281, p < 0.01). A linear regression analysis conducted with GAF and depression at baseline in addition to gender, pre-morbid adjustment, duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), and self-esteem as predictors and GAF at six months as the outcome variable revealed only self-esteem to be a significant predictor of GAF at six months (β = 0.290, p < 0.01). However, no association was found between self-esteem and remission at six months (β = 0.003, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Self-esteem is associated with global functional outcome at six months but not with remission of symptoms. Efforts should be made to provide interventions that may improve low self-esteem in the attempt to influence functional outcome.
BACKGROUND: Self-esteem may be associated with a wide range of psychiatric disorders, including psychotic disorders. However, the relationship between self-esteem and outcome in psychosis has not been adequately examined, especially early in the course of the illness. AIM: The aim of the study was to examine the impact of self-esteem in individuals who presented for treatment of a first episode of psychosis on outcome early in the course of the illness. METHODS: The Self-Esteem Rating Scale (SERS) was administered to 121 individuals with first-episode psychosis following entry into a specialized programme. Symptoms and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) were assessed at six months after beginning treatment. A correlational analysis was followed by a linear regression controlling for potential confounds. RESULTS: Self-esteem assessed early in the course of treatment was positively correlated with GAF at six months (r = 0.281, p < 0.01). A linear regression analysis conducted with GAF and depression at baseline in addition to gender, pre-morbid adjustment, duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), and self-esteem as predictors and GAF at six months as the outcome variable revealed only self-esteem to be a significant predictor of GAF at six months (β = 0.290, p < 0.01). However, no association was found between self-esteem and remission at six months (β = 0.003, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Self-esteem is associated with global functional outcome at six months but not with remission of symptoms. Efforts should be made to provide interventions that may improve low self-esteem in the attempt to influence functional outcome.
Authors: Srividya N Iyer; Sally S Mustafa; Laura Moro; G Eric Jarvis; Ridha Joober; Sherezad Abadi; Nicola Casacalenda; Howard C Margolese; Amal Abdel-Baki; Martin Lepage; Ashok Malla Journal: Can J Psychiatry Date: 2020-09-28 Impact factor: 4.356
Authors: Sylvia Romanowska; Michael W Best; Christopher R Bowie; Colin A Depp; Thomas L Patterson; David L Penn; Amy E Pinkham; Philip D Harvey Journal: Schizophr Res Cogn Date: 2022-04-26