SOCIOECONOMIC MOBILITY AMONG PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA OR MAJOR AFFECTIVE-DISORDER - A 17-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE FOLLOW-UP

Background. Social mobility among patients with schizophrenia or major affective disorder was compared with that among the general populatio n. Method. Mobility was studied retrospectively from 1970 to 1987. Soc io-economic status (SES) was defined by occupation as in the populatio n census (upper white-collar, lower white-collar, blue-collar, entrepr eneur, farmer, unemployed). All patients aged 30-60 years at discharge (2901 men and 3620 women) in 1987-88 in Finland were included in the study. The SES structure of the general population was used for compar isons. Results. Among patients with schizophrenia there was a constant downward drift, commonly to unemployment. This risk was higher among men than women. In the youngest age group a marked decline from the pa rents' social status was observed. Among patients with major affective disorder the distribution of SES in 1970 was similar to that of the g eneral population. By 1987, a downward drift was again observed, mainl y to unemployment regardless of the initial SES group. The number of p atients in occupational categories were usually 30-50% lower than expe cted. Conclusions. Schizophrenic patients had a high risk of social dr op-out. Among patients with major affective disorder the downward drif t was much less.