The Relationship Between Course of Illness and β-Endorphin Plasma Levels in Patients with Schizophrenia

Figures & data

Table 1 Sample Characteristics for Patients with Schizophrenia and Healthy Comparison Group

Characteristics	Mean (±SD)		P value
	Patients (n=77)	Controls (n=74)
Gender (male:female)	24:53	21:53	0.708
Age (years)	34.16±10.99 (18; 72)	34.42±9.33 (20; 67)	0.436
Hn	3.92±3.14 (0; 16)	–	–
DOI (years)	7.96±6.5 (1; 34)	–	–
Course of illness (episodic:chronic)	33:44	–	–
BE (pmol/L)	25.48±12.64 (9.46; 64.25)	17.50±7.21 (3.21; 33.18)	0.000

Notes: Data are presented as mean ± SD (min; max).

Abbreviations: BE, β-endorphin plasma concentration; DOI, duration of illness; Hn, number of hospitalizations number.

Table 2 Comparison of Patient Samples in Relation to the Pattern of the Disease Course

	Chronic Course (n = 44)	Episodic Course (n = 33)	P value
BE (pmol/L)	29.70±13.45 (12.99; 64.25)	19.86±8.88 (9.46; 46.01)	0.000
DOI (years)	9.30±6.93	6.18±5.60	0.005
Hn	4.66±3.43	2.94±2.41	0.006

Notes: Data are presented as mean ± SD (min; max). p<0.05 indicates significance.

Abbreviations: BE, β-endorphin plasma concentration; DOI, duration of illness; Hn, number of hospitalizations.

Figure 1 The correlation between BE concentration and duration of illness (DOI) in patients with schizophrenia.

Figure 2 The correlation between BE concentration and number of hospitalizations in patients with schizophrenia.