Age‐related correlations in patient symptom management strategies in schizophrenia: An exploratory study

Abstract

The role that symptom management strategies play in the remediation of schizophrenia with age has been largely neglected. The aim of this study is to examine whether there are age‐related alterations in symptom management strategies. A total of 86 schizophrenic outpatients (age range 19–69 years) were queried about management strategies for 29 symptoms. Of the nine strategies employed ‘social diversion’ was significantly associated with increased age and ‘acceptance’ and ‘fighting back’ showed positive and negative trends with increased age, respectively. These age‐associated differences in management strategies are hypothesized to represent an interaction of trial and error procedures unique to the disorder intertwined with life‐span changes. Copyright © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.