Long-term follow-up of patients with a diagnosis of paranoid state and hospitalized, 1913 to 1940

From a sample of 239 patients diagnosed paranoid stale and hospitalized bet ween 1913 and 1940 at the Phipps Clinic, we particularly studied a group of 60 patients without previous hospitalizations, consisting of 57 patients w ith follow-ups of 5 or more years, and 3 patients who killed themselves (th e ultimate follow-up) less than 1 year after discharge. These 60 patients h ad been retrospectively diagnosed with delusional disorders by DSM-IV crite ria. On follow-up, 27% were rated recovered, whereas 52% were rated unimpro ved. Long-term follow-up was correlated with discharge status. Poor follow- up was significantly correlated with seclusive personality, poor premorbid history, onset 6 months or more before admission, gradual onset, lack of in sight, single marital status, and lack of precipitating events. A prognosti c scale constructed from the first four of these variables was predictive o f long-term outcome. More recent, better treatment results have been contra sted with these findings from an earlier non-drug-treatment era.