Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of gradual community-based rehabilitation on schizophrenia in the countryside. Methods 60 rural patients with schizophrenias were randomly sampled and divided into two groups: the rehabilitation group and the control group. The patients in the rehabilitation group were intervened with comprehensive rehabilitation by specialist, while those in the control group were intervened with follow-up survey. They were assessed with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and Social Disability Screening Schedule (SDSS) before and 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 20 months after the rehabilitation. Results The differences in scores of BPRS, SDSS and SANS were more significant with the time of rehabilitation. Conclusion The outcome of the community-based rehabilitation for schizophrenias may associate with the persistence in the countryside.

Key words: schizophrenia, community-based rehabilitation, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Social Disability Screening Schedule (SDSS)