THE DEMANDS OF THE PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF RECOVERY

Abstract

The goal of the study was to investigate a relation between stages of functional recovery and clinical variables and functions of patients with schizophrenia. This cross-sectional observational study were included 52 patients with schizophrenia who were participated in psychosocial rehabilitation at the National Mental Health Center as well as at the Republican Psychiatric Hospital in Baku, Azerbaijan. Patients functional capacity were measured by The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Camberwell Assessment of Need Scale (CANSAS) and Stages of Recovery Instrument (STORI). The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Azerbaijan Medical University. Functional recovery in schizophrenia should be considered as a three-stage process including the stage of Moratorium, the stage of Changes, and the stage of Personal Growth. At the same time, the achievement of each new recovery stage is associated with a change in the quantity and structure of demands that is observed in a statistically significant decrease in functional demands in first place. The transition to a higher stage of recovery means, in fact, an improvement in the functioning of patients with schizophrenia. The transition to higher stages implies better functioning in the first place. In particular, patients with schizophrenia restore their self-care ability, ability to look after home, carry out everyday duties and care for children.