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Hansen HG, Gjøde ICT, Starzer M, Ranning A, Hjorthøj C, Albert N, Nordentoft M, Thorup AAE. Clinical illness course and family-related outcomes among parents with a first episode of schizophrenia spectrum disorder: a 20-year follow-up of the OPUS trial. Psychol Med 2024:1-10. [PMID: 38563286 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291724000680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies investigating parenthood and how it affects long-term outcomes are lacking among individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This study aimed to examine the life of participants 20 years after their first diagnosis with a special focus on parenthood, clinical illness course, and family-related outcomes. METHODS Among 578 individuals diagnosed with first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorder between 1998 and 2000, a sample of 174 participants was reassessed at the 20-year follow-up. We compared symptom severity, remission, clinical recovery, and global functioning between 75 parents and 99 non-parents. Also, family functioning scored on the family assessment device, and the children's mental health was reported. We collected longitudinal data on psychiatric admission, supported housing, and work status via the Danish registers. RESULTS Participants with offspring had significantly lower psychotic (mean (s.d.) of 0.89 (1.46) v. 1.37 (1.44), p = 0.031) negative (mean [s.d.] of 1.13 [1.16] v. 1.91 [1.07], p < 0.001) and disorganized symptom scores (mean [s.d.] of 0.46 [0.80] v. 0.85 [0.95], p = 0.005) and more were in remission (59.5% v. 22.4%, p < 0.001) and in clinical recovery (29.7% v. 11.1%, p = 0.002) compared to non-parents. When investigating global functioning over 20 years, individuals becoming parents after their first diagnosis scored higher than individuals becoming parents before their first diagnosis and non-parents. Regarding family-related outcomes, 28.6% reported unhealthy family functioning, and 10% of the children experienced daily life difficulties. CONCLUSIONS Overall, parents have more favorable long-term outcomes than non-parents. Still, parents experience possible challenges regarding family functioning, and a minority of their children face difficulties in daily life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene Gjervig Hansen
- Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health - Core, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Mental Health Services in the Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida Christine Tholstrup Gjøde
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Research Unit - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre, The Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marie Starzer
- Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health - Core, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Mental Health Services in the Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Ranning
- Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health - Core, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Mental Health Services in the Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carsten Hjorthøj
- Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health - Core, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Mental Health Services in the Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nikolai Albert
- Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health - Core, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Mental Health Services in the Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Mental Health Centre Amager, Copenhagen University Hospital, Digevej 110, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Merete Nordentoft
- Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health - Core, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Mental Health Services in the Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Amalie Elgaard Thorup
- Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health - Core, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Mental Health Services in the Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Research Unit - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre, The Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark
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