Abstract:
Background: Relapse is re-emergence of psychotic symptoms. Psychotic disorders have
relapses associated with the nature of the illnesses or some other associated factors. Most of the
time patients with previous history of illness, with severe type or ongoing stressors have high
risk of relapse. The common factors associated with relapse are non-adherence to medication,
psychosocial stressors, co morbid substance use (illnesses) and staying longer duration before
psychiatric treatment. Relapse leads patients to have longer time of treatment and repeated
hospitalization. This affects the patients’ prognosis in the long run.
Objective: To assess prevalence of relapse and associated factors among patients with psychotic
disorders
Methods: This study was conducted using cross-sectional study design to determine prevalence
of relapse and associated factors among patients with psychotic disorders by using standard
questionnaire. Data were entered and analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS
version 20). The association between relapse and other variables was explored using binary
logistic regression. Multivariate analysis was used for variables with p-value ≤ 0.25.
Results: Out of 386 patients included in the study 65% (n=251) of them had relapse (≥13 on
Positive Syndrome Scale). The mean positive syndrome scale was 23±SD14.43. Relapse of
psychotic disorders was associated with ethnicity, income, low level of khat abuse, diagnosis
(schizophrenia, schizophreniform and schizoaffective), having side effect and non-compliance.
Conclusion and recommendation: Relapse among psychotic disorder patients was high. It is
one of the burdens of treating mental illnesses. Families or care givers as well as patients need
regular counseling about the nature of the illness and proper medication intake. And also they
need to be assessed for possible early signs of relapse and regular follow up for possible side
effects.
