Clinical assessments

Clinical severities were rated using the Mandarin version Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) [43], Clinical Global Impression of Severity (CGI-S), and Personal and Social Performance scale (PSP) [44], which were carried out by each patient’s attending psychiatrist. Patients’ employment status was collected by face-to-face interview with our research assistant. Patients’ subjective experiences were reported by filling out a medication satisfaction questionnaire (MSQ) based on a 7-point Likert scale [45], and using the EuroQoL-5D visual analogue scale (EQ-5D-VAS) to evaluate quality of life [46]. In addition, each patient’s medical records were reviewed to collect demographics, clinical diagnosis, age of onset, illness duration, and any history of psychiatric hospitalization and psychotic relapse during their illness.