Forty-nine probands, diagnosed according to objective diagnostic
criteria as having good- or poor-prognosis schizophrenia, were interviewed
6 years after being diagnosed to assess outcome measured by the
Strauss-Carpenter outcome scale, global ratings made by experienced
clinicians, and Feighner criteria. The majority of poor-prognosis probands
were doing poorly, had a higher than expected number of suicides or
probable suicides, and had evidence of organic impairment. The authors
conclude that poor prognosis can be accurately predicted when longitudinal
factors are embedded in the diagnostic criteria and that clinicians should
be aware of the substantial risk of suicide and organic impairment with
schizophrenia.Abstract Teaser