Mao-Sheng Ran1, Yunyu Xiao2, Xinyi Zhao3, Tian-Ming Zhang4, Yue-Hui Yu4, Wen-Jun Mao5, Fu-Rong Lin6, Bo Liu7, Cecilia Lai-Wan Chan8. 1. Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: msran@hku.hk. 2. Silver School of Social Work, New York University, New York, United States. 3. Institute of Medical Humanities, Peking University, China. 4. Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. 5. Chengdu Mental Health Center, Chengdu, 610036, China. 6. Xinjin Mental Hospital, Xinjin, Chengdu, 611432, China. 7. Jingzhou Mental Health Center, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, China. 8. Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: cecichan@hku.hk.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the differences in 14-year outcomes of persons with schizophrenia with and without family history of psychosis in a rural community in China. METHODS: All participants with schizophrenia (n=510) aged 15 years and older were identified in a 1994 epidemiological investigation of 123,572 people and followed up in 2004 and 2008 in Xinjin County, Chengdu, China. RESULTS: Individuals with positive family history of schizophrenia had significantly younger age of first onset than those with negative family history of schizophrenia in 1994 and 2004. Compared with individuals with negative family history of schizophrenia, those with positive family history of schizophrenia had significantly higher rate of homelessness and lower rate of death due to other reasons in 10-year (2004) and 14-year follow-up (2008). There were no significantly differences of mean scores on PANSS, SDSS and GAF in 2008 between positive and negative family history groups. CONCLUSIONS: The positive family history of schizophrenia is strongly related to younger age of onset, and may predict a poorer long-term outcome (e.g., higher rate of homelessness) in persons with schizophrenia in the rural community. The findings have implications for further studies on specific family-related mechanisms on clinical treatment and rehabilitation, as well as for planning and delivering of community-based mental health services.
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the differences in 14-year outcomes of persons with schizophrenia with and without family history of psychosis in a rural community in China. METHODS: All participants with schizophrenia (n=510) aged 15 years and older were identified in a 1994 epidemiological investigation of 123,572 people and followed up in 2004 and 2008 in Xinjin County, Chengdu, China. RESULTS: Individuals with positive family history of schizophrenia had significantly younger age of first onset than those with negative family history of schizophrenia in 1994 and 2004. Compared with individuals with negative family history of schizophrenia, those with positive family history of schizophrenia had significantly higher rate of homelessness and lower rate of death due to other reasons in 10-year (2004) and 14-year follow-up (2008). There were no significantly differences of mean scores on PANSS, SDSS and GAF in 2008 between positive and negative family history groups. CONCLUSIONS: The positive family history of schizophrenia is strongly related to younger age of onset, and may predict a poorer long-term outcome (e.g., higher rate of homelessness) in persons with schizophrenia in the rural community. The findings have implications for further studies on specific family-related mechanisms on clinical treatment and rehabilitation, as well as for planning and delivering of community-based mental health services.