Occupational and other outcomes in schizophrenia and other psychoses
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
Leena Palotie Auditorium (101A), University of Oulu, Faculty of Medicine, Aapistie 5 A
Topic of the dissertation
Occupational and other outcomes in schizophrenia and other psychoses
Doctoral candidate
Licentiate of Medicine Tuomas Majuri
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Population Health
Subject of study
Medicine
Opponent
Research Professor Jaana Suvisaari, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Custos
Adjunct Professor Erika Jääskeläinen, Research Unit of Population Health
Occupational and other outcomes in schizophrenia and other psychoses
The doctoral thesis showed that people with psychosis onset before 18 years of age have relatively good long-term outcomes. Occupational outcomes of psychoses were relatively poor although some persons can attain better outcomes, reflecting the occupational capacity of persons with psychoses.
Schizophrenia and other psychoses are psychiatric disorders that are often associated with relatively poor outcomes. Occupational outcomes are measures of functional and occupational capacities. Occupational and other outcomes in psychotic disorders are typically the worst of all psychiatric disorders. However, data on these outcomes in long-term follow-up periods are scarce.
The thesis aimed to investigate long-term occupational and other outcomes in schizophrenia and other psychoses by utilising national register data and questionnaire data from different ages. The study was based on the general population-based Northern Finland Birth Cohorts 1966 and 1986.
Persons with psychosis onset at 18–22 years of age had poorer long-term outcomes in terms of marital status, having children, and having substance use disorders compared to psychosis onset before 18 years. People with psychosis onset before the age of 18 years had mainly similar socioeconomic and clinical outcomes compared to non-psychotic psychiatric disorders with onset before 18 years. However, persons with early-onset psychosis were more often on disability pension compared to other early-onset psychiatric disorders.
Most individuals with schizophrenia and other psychoses presented with unfavourable employee trajectories reflecting an elevated risk of unemployment and part-time work until midlife. Although schizophrenia is associated with long-term work disability, the study showed that it is possible to return to the labour market after being on a disability pension. In other psychoses, returning to the labour market is more common than in schizophrenia. In schizophrenia, being married, later onset age of psychosis, shorter length of the latest disability pension and better school performance, and in other psychoses, having children and shorter length of the latest disability pension predicted returning to the labour market.
To fulfil the occupational capacity of individuals with psychoses, development of interventions and studies considering individuals’ perspectives on functioning with larger samples are needed.
Schizophrenia and other psychoses are psychiatric disorders that are often associated with relatively poor outcomes. Occupational outcomes are measures of functional and occupational capacities. Occupational and other outcomes in psychotic disorders are typically the worst of all psychiatric disorders. However, data on these outcomes in long-term follow-up periods are scarce.
The thesis aimed to investigate long-term occupational and other outcomes in schizophrenia and other psychoses by utilising national register data and questionnaire data from different ages. The study was based on the general population-based Northern Finland Birth Cohorts 1966 and 1986.
Persons with psychosis onset at 18–22 years of age had poorer long-term outcomes in terms of marital status, having children, and having substance use disorders compared to psychosis onset before 18 years. People with psychosis onset before the age of 18 years had mainly similar socioeconomic and clinical outcomes compared to non-psychotic psychiatric disorders with onset before 18 years. However, persons with early-onset psychosis were more often on disability pension compared to other early-onset psychiatric disorders.
Most individuals with schizophrenia and other psychoses presented with unfavourable employee trajectories reflecting an elevated risk of unemployment and part-time work until midlife. Although schizophrenia is associated with long-term work disability, the study showed that it is possible to return to the labour market after being on a disability pension. In other psychoses, returning to the labour market is more common than in schizophrenia. In schizophrenia, being married, later onset age of psychosis, shorter length of the latest disability pension and better school performance, and in other psychoses, having children and shorter length of the latest disability pension predicted returning to the labour market.
To fulfil the occupational capacity of individuals with psychoses, development of interventions and studies considering individuals’ perspectives on functioning with larger samples are needed.
Last updated: 23.1.2024