Remission in the outpatient care of schizophrenia: 3-year results from the Schizophrenia Outpatients Health Outcomes (SOHO) study in France.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the contribution of socio-demographics, clinical profile and psychotropic treatment on remission in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Among 933 French outpatients recruited in the European observational Schizophrenia Outpatient Health Outcomes study (SOHO), 563 were followed-up for 3 years, had at most one missing visit, and were included in the analysis. Symptomatic remission was defined as a score of 3 (mild severity) or less on the Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia (CGI) overall, positive, negative and cognitive symptom scales, maintained for at least 6 months and without hospitalization. A logistic regression model was used to analyse the factors associated with time in remission. RESULTS: 60.6% of patients achieved remission during the 3-year follow-up. Patients never treated before inclusion in the study (OR=2.3) and those having paid employment (OR=1.4) were more likely to achieve remission. Higher baseline clinical severity was associated with a significantly lower likelihood of achieving remission CGI overall (OR=0.67), CGI positive (OR=0.85) and CGI negative (OR=0.74). Compared with olanzapine, other atypicals (OR=0.71) and conventional antipsychotics (OR=0.69) were associated with a lower probability of achieving remission. CONCLUSIONS: Remission can be achieved in a high proportion of patients. Factors such as being previously untreated, having paid employment and taking olanzapine are predictors of remission.