ENGLISH ENGLISH

INDONESIA

Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder affecting thinking, emotions, and behavior with global health implications. Many patients experience delays in treatment, as in the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey, where 44% of patients had not received adequate treatment. This condition is called the duration of untreated psychosis, which is often studied as a prognostic factor and is associated with more severe symptoms. The severity of schizophrenia symptoms can be measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).

Objective: To determine the relationship between the duration of untreated psychosis and the severity of symptoms in schizophrenia patients.

Methods: This study used an observational analytical method with a cross-sectional design. The study sample consisted of 62 Batak schizophrenia patients at Prof. M. Ildrem Mental Hospital in 2025.

Results: Of the 62 Batak schizophrenia patients at Prof. M. Ildrem Mental Hospital in 2025, it was found that the majority of patients were aged 38–47 years (35.5%), male (69.4%), married (54.8%), had a high school education (43.5%), and the Toba ethnic group (54.8%). In terms of the duration of untreated psychosis, most patients experienced a duration of > 6 months (67.7%) and moderate symptoms (46.8%). Statistical test results chisquare obtained p value = 0.014 (P<0.05).

Conclusion: There is significant relationship between the duration of untreated psychosis and the severity of symptoms schizophrenia patients, which shows that the longer the duration of untreated psychosis, more the severity of symptoms increases.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, duration of psychosis without therapy, symptom severity, PANSS.