Age-group differences in treatment outcomes for male veterans with severe schizophrenia: A three-year longitudinal study

Treatment outcomes in later-life schizophrenia are poorly understood and of serious concern for clinicians and mental health policy makers. Age-group differences were examined for 499 male veterans with severe schizophrenia e nrolled in enhanced treatment programs at 12 Veterans Affairs hospitals. Pa rticipants were separated into three age groups (20-39 years, 40-59 years, 60 years and above), with the following outcomes assessed at enrolment and 1 and 3 years afterwards: psychiatric symptomatology, global functioning, i mpairment in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), and hospital u se. All three age groups experienced significant improvement in psychiatric symptoms over time. The oldest group fared worse than younger patients in terms of global functioning and generally required more inpatient services and assistance with IADL. Innovative programming is needed to meet the spec ial needs of the growing population of older adults with schizophrenia.