Functional remission in Belgian forensic psychotic patients – story of a virtuous cycle?

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this article, we examine the associations between functional remission, psychotic symptoms and protective risk factors, and we study the reliability and validity of the Functional Remission Of General Schizophrenia scale (FROGS) in a sample for forensic psychotic patients. Functional remission was measured using the FROGS, psychotic symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scale (PANSS), and protective risk factors were collected using the Structured Assessment of Protective Factors (SAProF). A sample of 127 patients from a forensic medium-secure unit for psychosis were included in this retrospective correlational study. The FROGS factor scales, Daily Life and Relationship subscales and total scale had acceptable psychometric properties. Functional remission is strongly associated with the absence of psychotic symptoms (especially negative symptoms), and protective risk factors. The FROGS factor scales and subscales were able to predict the care setting at discharge (residential, semi-residential, or independent living). Functional remission appears to be a cornerstone in the forensic rehabilitative process as the Good Lives Model for Mental Health and the Remission in Schizophrenia Working Group suggested. The FROGS can be used reliably and validly in a forensic population.