Studies assessing the treatment outcomes in first-episode schizophrenia have reported mixed results. While symptom improvement is frequently robust, when other domains are considered outcomes are generally poorer. We explored response trajectories, rates and predictors of recovery in the domains of core psychopathology, clinician-rated social and occupational functioning and patient-rated quality of life over 24 months of treatment in 98 patients with first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders who were treated with a long-acting antipsychotic medication. There was robust improvement in core psychopathology (effect size d = 3.36) and functionality (d = 1.78), with most improvement occurring within the first six months of treatment. In contrast, improvement in subjective quality of life was less marked (d = 0.37) and slower, only reaching significance after 12 months of treatment. Symptom remission was achieved by 70% of patients and over half met our criteria for functional remission and good quality of life. However, only 29% met the full criteria for recovery. Patients who met the recovery criteria had better premorbid adjustment, were less likely to be of mixed ethnicity and substance use emerged as the only modifiable predictor of recovery. Only 9% of our sample achieved both functional remission and good quality of life despite not being in symptom remission. We found high rates of symptom remission, functional remission and good quality of life in patients, although relatively few achieved recovery by meeting all three of the outcome criteria. Symptom remission is not a necessary prerequisite for functional remission and good quality of life, although few non-remitters achieve other recovery criteria.

The South African Journal of Psychiatry publishes topical content in psychiatry for clinical practice and academic pursuits, including work in the subspecialty areas of psychiatry.