Clinical and psychosocial remission amongst schizophrenia patients is nowadays a defined goal of treatment. This necessitates incorporating quantifiable psychosocial variables with traditional symptomatic data as both influence remission.

To assess psychosocial remission in schizophrenia (using the PSRS) along with the quantification of symptomatic remission in a large cohort of community dwelling schizophrenia patients.

Psychiatrists, nurses and social workers endorsed the PSRS and the American Psychiatric Association symptomatic remission criteria (APA-SR) for schizophrenia patients they have been treating for 6 months or more. Data as to gender, age and pharmacological treatment of each patient were also collected.

Of 445 participants who completed the survey, 268 (60%) were psychiatrists, 161 (36%) nurses and 16 (4%) social workers. Patients mean age was 43.4±13.1 years; 61% were men and 39% were women. Antipsychotic treatments were as follows: Per-os (PO) 243 (55%), IM long-acting typical antipsychotics (LAT) 102 (23%) and IM long-acting risperidone (Consta) 100 (22%). Overall, 37% of patients achieved symptomatic remission and 31% achieved psychosocial remission. Rates of symptomatic remission were significantly higher in patients treated by LAT and Consta compared with PO (51% and 48% vs., 29% respectively, p=0.0003). Rates of psychosocial remission were also significantly higher in patients treated by LAT and Consta compared with PO (43%% and 41% vs., 24% respectively, p=0.003).

About a third of schizophrenia patients in Israel were in remission. IM long acting preparations were associated with higher remission rates. Treatment choice may thus influence rates of remission.