Outcome in males with first-episode schizophrenia: 7-year follow-up

The early course of schizophrenia is highly variable. We assessed outcomes of patients with first-episode schizophrenia at 7-year follow-up.

Consecutively hospitalized male patients were included if they were experiencing their first admission for first-episode schizophrenia and were reassessed at 1-, 4- and 7-year follow-ups. The psychopathology was evaluated using the PANSS, relative decrease of PANSS and remission status based on severity of core symptoms.

Forty-four of 76 patients were reassessed three times. At the end of index hospitalization 73% of patients achieved remission; however, after 1, 4 and 7 years, the percentage had dropped to 50, 50 and 52%, respectively. When compared post-hoc there was no significant difference in PANSS and response to treatment between remitters and non-remitters during the index hospitalization; however, a significant difference in psychopathology emerged first after 1, 4 and 7 years. All patients who had not achieve remission after 1 year also failed to achieve remission after 4 and 7 years.

Response to treatment during the first psychotic break-through may not be a decisive indicator for the outlook of the disease. Our data suggest that when deterioration occurs, it does so early after the first episode.