FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH RELAPSE OF PERSONS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA AFTER DISCHARGE FROM PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENT CARE

Background and Hypothesis: Schizophrenia is a chronic condition with high risk of relapse, affecting the lives and careers of those afflicted along with their carers. In the context of Surin hospital, 4.6% of patients with schizophrenia experience relapses within 6 months after discharge from hospital inpatient care. The knowledge regarding factors associated with relapses after discharge from inpatient admissions can prove useful for monitoring and management to reduce the risk of relapses in such patients.Purpose: To explore the factors associated with relapse of persons with schizophrenia after discharge from psychiatric inpatient care.Study Design: An etiological study using retrospective matched data case-controls at Surin hospital. Patients with schizophrenia exhibiting relapse within 6 months after discharge from the psychiatric ward between the year 2020-2021 were selected from our database with a ratio of 5 controls to 1 case. The analysis for this etiology study was performed using logistic regression, expressing values in odds ratio, 95% confidence intervals and P values.Study Results: Of the 817 schizophrenic patients in this study, 263 patients suffered from relapses while 554 patients did not. The factors associated with relapses include the average duration of inpatient admission and duration of illness, the number of psychiatric admissions, discontinuity of medication intake, and the presence of psychiatric comorbidities.