Predicting and Controlling Relapse in Schizophrenia: Early Signs Monitoring

A consultant psychiatrist working in The Mental Health services in the UK may expect to see perhaps eight to twelve new cases of schizophrenia in a year: however the known individuals suffering from schizophrenia may number 100 to 120 for a catchment area of 45 000. In some settings, characteristically that of a deprived inner city area, this number may be greatly exceeded. The service provision for this group may have to be flexible to accommodate a broad range of age, disability, and social settings. Although there is a marked tendency for the deficits associated with schizophrenia to increase with duration of illness (Owens and Johnstone, 1980) there will be individuals for whom youth is no protection from severe disability, and some aging individuals whose disabilities may be less than expected.