A Study of Symptomatic Remission and its Association with Nicotine Dependence and Degree of Disability in Patients of Schizophrenia

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a typically disabling disease that impacts negatively on the academic, occupational, social and family functioning of the patients and becomes the considerable cause of illness-related disability. This study aimed to examine the association between remission; tobacco dependence and degree of disability in schizophrenic patients. A total of 318 consecutive patients of >2 years of illness were recruited at the Psychiatry Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital. Sociodemographic, clinical data sheet, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale [PANSS] were applied. Symptomatic remission assessed by the Remission in Schizophrenia Working Group Symptomatic Remission Criteria (RSWG). Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and Indian Disability Evaluation Assessment Scale (IDEAS) were applied to assess tobacco dependence and degree of disability, respectively in the study population. Results showed that symptomatic remission was seen in 70.8% (225) while 29.2% (93) were in nonremission phase. The nonremission phase of schizophrenia was significantly associated with high nicotine dependence including both forms of tobacco use (smokers 45.40% and chewers 49%, P value= 0.001). Majority of schizophrenic patients had moderate disability 64.5% (60) during the nonremission phase while mild disability 70.2% (158) in remission phase of illness (P value = 0.000). Higher PANSS score was found in nonremission as compared to remission in each domain of scale. (PANSS-Positive 31.98 (6.3) > 17.36 (6.19), PANSS-Negative 24.37 (4.2)> 17.70 (4.16), PANSS-G 47.82 (8.3)> 32.96 (7.12) PANSS-T 104.47 (15.0)> 68.08 (14.53) (P Value=0.000). Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous disorder; it needed a distinct extent of interventions for each patient. Psychosocial intervention is needed additionally with pharmacological treatment in promoting independence, decreasing disability and enhancing the quality of life in person with schizophrenia.

Keywords: Remission, disability, tobacco-dependence, schizophrenia

Cite this Article

Garasia B, Sharma S, Gausai AK, et al. A study of symptomatic remission and its association with nicotine dependence and degree of disability in patients of Schizophrenia. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Pharmacology. 2018; 8(2):
10–18p.