Hopelessness and first-episode psychosis: a longitudinal study

Hopelessness has not been adequately studied in first-episode psychotic patients, although it is already present at the early stages, especially in schizophrenic patients. We have studied 96 neuroleptic-naive psychotic patients (49 schizophrenic patients and 47 other non-affective psychotic patients) over a period of 12 months after their first admission. The total score on the Hopelessness Scale (HS) at first admission was higher in the schizophrenic patients, and correlated with younger age and with negative symptoms. High HS scores at baseline predicted poor short-term outcome in schizophrenic patients, as evidenced by worse global functioning at the 12-month follow-up. These correlations were not observed in the other psychoses group. Our results suggest that young, severely affected schizophrenic patients who experience hopelessness might be at higher risk of poor outcome.