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The Prediction of the Course of Minor Psychiatric Disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

P. J. Huxley ,
D. P. Goldberg ,
G. P. Maguire  and
V. A. Kincey
P. J. Huxley
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Manchester, Swinton Grove, Manchester M13 0EU
D. P. Goldberg
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of South Manchester, West Didsbury, Manchester
G. P. Maguire
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of South Manchester, West Didsbury, Manchester
V. A. Kincey
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of South Manchester, West Didsbury, Manchester
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Summary

Recent studies have suggested that psychosocial factors play an important part in the prediction of the course of minor psychiatric disorders. Fifty-nine new psychiatric out-patients suffering from minor disorders were assessed, using standardized clinical and social interviews, and 52 were followed up after one year and the clinical assessment repeated. Social and clinical factors were equally important predictors of the number of months ill in the survey year, but social and constitutional variables were superior in the prediction of percentage change in symptoms over the year.

The results of correlation, factor and multiple regression analyses suggest that the course of minor psychiatric disorder is best predicted by three sets of variables which are, in order of importance, the patient's material social circumstances, his clinical symptoms and his ‘genetic risk’ scores.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 135 , Issue 6 , December 1979 , pp. 535 - 543
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1979 

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