Validation of remission criteria for schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE Remission criteria for schizophrenia have been proposed, consisting of a time criterion and a symptomatic remission criterion. With longitudinal data of a representative patient group (N=317; median follow-up: 1,132 days), validity of the symptomatic remission criterion was investigated. METHOD In a group of 145 patients meeting the symptomatic remission criterion at baseline and a group of 172 patients not meeting it at baseline, change over time in remission status was examined in relation to change in various functional outcomes. RESULTS In both groups, change over time with the symptomatic remission criterion was associated with substantial changes in unmet needs, Global Assessment of Functioning scale scores, satisfaction with services and, to a lesser extent, quality of life. Changing the symptomatic remission criterion to include depression and suicidality did not affect the results. CONCLUSIONS The proposed symptomatic remission criterion has clinical validity and represents the right balance between parsimony and inclusiveness.