COURSE OF PATIENTS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING SCHIZOPHRENIA DURING FIRST EPISODE OCCURRING UNDER AGE 18 YEARS

Of 118 child and adolescent schizophrenic patients (ICD-9: 295.x; mean onset age 16.0 years), 97 (82.2%) could be completely investigated at follow-up (mean interval 7.4 years; mean age 23.1 years). At followup 30% of the patients were semidependent or dependent, 72% still requir ed psychiatric treatment, 44% were at least moderately impaired with r egard to educational/occupational functions and 58% with regard to soc ial functions; 73% had experienced at least one further schizophrenic episode. Comparison with schizophrenia beginning in adulthood showed t hat the impairment in social function was much greater in the younger group of patients. These results support the belief that schizophrenic psychoses starting in adolescence have a worse outcome than those beg inning in adulthood. The most efficient indicators for a worse outcome were long duration of inpatient treatment at first admission, a high number of symptoms and low social competence at discharge.