Factors which influence the oral condition of chronic schizophrenia patients.

The oral health status of 249 individuals with chronic schizophrenia was evaluated by means of the Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) and Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth scores (DMFT). The patients were subdivided as to chronicity of illness and venue of psychiatric treatment (158 inpatients > 10 years' hospitalization, 34 inpatients < 10 years' hospitalization, and 57 outpatients). The severity of schizophrenia was determined by: the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the intensity of negative symptoms of schizophrenia [as measured by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Negative Symptoms (BPRSNEGS)], and the equivalent dose of chloropromazine (EDC). This study demonstrated that inpatients had greater amounts of dental disease than outpatients. The extent of dental disease among inpatients as measured by both the OHI-S and DMFT scores was directly related to the intensity of schizophrenia (BPRS), magnitude of negative symptoms associated with schizophrenia (BPRSNEGS), and length of hospitalization. DMFT scores were directly related to EDC value.