Outcomes paradox

The outcomes paradox is one of the terms for the observation that patients with schizophrenia in developing countries benefit much more from therapy than those in Western countries. This is surprising because the reverse holds for most diseases: "the richer and more developed the country, the better the patient outcome".[1]

The outcomes paradox came to light in late 60s due to studies done by World Health Organization across the world and has become an "axiom" in international psychiatry since. In a study in India, it was revealed that the better outcome among patients is due to socio-cultural factors such as family, community, and local conditions.[2] For this reason, related WHO programmes in India are community- and family-based.[2]

Cohen et al. criticize this view, and argue that the data do not support this conclusion.[3] There is also a concept called "equivalent outcome paradox", which describes the condition where varying methods of psychotherapy based on different techniques and theoretical orientations tend to produce the same outcome.[4]

See also

References
  1. Padma, T. V. (2014). "Developing countries: The outcomes paradox". Nature. 508 (7494): S14–S15. doi:10.1038/508S14a. PMID 24695329.
  2. Chabukswar. "Notes in Tune: Arts-based Therapy (ABT) at Schizophrenia Awareness Association in Pune, India". www.psychosocial.com. Retrieved 2019-07-09.
  3. Cohen, A; Patel, V; Thara, R; Gureje, O (March 2008). "Questioning an axiom: better prognosis for schizophrenia in the developing world?". Schizophr Bull. 34 (2): 229–44. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbm105. PMC 2632419. PMID 17905787.
  4. Hirsch, Steven R.; Weinberger, Daniel R. (2003). Schizophrenia, Second Edition. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing. p. 662. ISBN 0632063882.


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