Changes Over Time of Medication Status of Patients With Better Functioning In regard to changes over time, the data indicate the strongest effect and the greatest likelihood of a number of factors of importance to emerge occurred after the first 2 years. Thus, by the 4.5- and 7.5-year follow-ups and at each follow-up thereafter, this trend toward better functioning for the patients not on antipsychotics and with more positive personality characteristics was stronger and statistically significant for this subgroup with more internal resources and positive attitudes about themselves.