Predicting the job performance of schizophrenic patients: 36 months follow-up

Objective and methods Predicting the job performance of schizophrenic patients after discharge from hospital has been the focus of many studies within the last 30 years. In our own long-term study, we have started to follow-up 49 consecutively admitted schizophrenics taking their individual return on the so-called first employment market as primary target variable. To evaluate the respective predictive value, a set of different neuropsychological, psychopathological and psychosocial parameters was gathered in each patient. Results The data presented here are based on our follow-up 36 months after discharge with 46 patients. In concordance with present literature, statistical analysis revealed the following variables to be of decisive significance for successful occupational reintegration: - subjective ratings by trained observers - history of both psychiatric treatment and working tenure. The predictive value of other psychopathological and neuropsychological parameters are weakened after 18 months. Conclusions A combination of these parameters provides a useful tool to assess prospectively the individual job performance of a given patient.