Prodromal symptoms of relapse in schizophrenic outpatients: retrospective and prospective study.

Of 61 schizophrenic outpatients in remission, 33 who had relapses within the past 20 months were retrospectively examined for prodromal symptoms of relapse. Four weeks prior to the relapse, 63.6% manifested 4 prodromal symptoms, which were somatic concern, feeling of tiredness, anxiety and depressive mood. Contrarily, with the GAS evaluation, no significant deterioration was recognized until one week before the relapse. Subsequently, a prospective observation of symptoms in 43 patients was conducted for 7 months to determine whether therapeutic intervention at the time of the manifestation of prodromal symptoms could be effective in the prevention of relapses and the improvement of outcome of relapses, and to consider the therapeutic use of this method.