Am J Psychiatry 1981; 138:797-801
Copyright © 1981 by American Psychiatric Association
Does attitude toward psychosis relate to outcome?
TH McGlashan and WT Carpenter Jr
In a previous follow-up of recovered schizophrenic patients, it was found
that a positive, integrating attitude toward illness correlated with good
outcome. In similar research at NIH, the authors of this study obtained
partial replication of these findings. Specifically, the less negative
patients were about their illness and future, the better their outcome. A
very positive attitude was not associated with good outcome. Hence, the
absence of a negative attitude appears critical. The authors failed to find
a relationship between integration or isolation of the psychotic experience
and outcome, which suggests the incidence of this (unconscious)
psychological coping style from a conscious attitude and opinion about
illness and the future.
