Social functioning and the course of early-onset schizophrenia - Five-yearfollow-up of a psychosocial intervention

Background Schizophrenia implies severe social impairments. Since the treat ment of patients with schizophrenia shifted from long-term hospital admissi ons to community services, research on social functioning has become increa singly important. Aims Follow-up assessment of social functioning in young patients with schi zophrenia during a 5-year period after intervention. Method During intervention, families were randomised into two conditions: s tandard intervention and standard plus family intervention. Results Although no differential treatment effect with regard to the course of the illness was found, patients from the standard plus family intervent ion condition stayed for fewer months in institutions for psychiatric patie nts than patients from the standard intervention condition. Conclusions Family intervention has helped parents to support their childre n, thereby diminishing institutional care.