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Prolonged recovery in first-episode psychosis
J Edwards1, D Maude, P D McGorry
1Centre for Young People's Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
The British Journal of Psychiatry. Supplement
|October 9, 1998
Summary
Early intervention for first-episode psychosis is crucial. A study found that 6.6% of patients experienced enduring positive symptoms, often linked to longer untreated psychosis duration and poorer outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Early identification and specialized treatment of enduring positive symptoms can alleviate patient suffering.
- Intervention may alter the long-term course of psychotic illness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of enduring positive symptoms in first-episode psychosis.
- To describe attempts at integrating early intervention strategies into routine care.
Main Methods:
- Assessed 227 individuals with first-episode psychosis using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale at 3/6 and 12 months post-stabilization.
- Analyzed data from two first-episode samples, focusing on enduring positive symptoms.
Main Results:
- 6.6% of patients (n=227) exhibited enduring positive symptoms at all assessment points.
- In schizophrenia spectrum disorders (n=158), this prevalence rose to 8.9%.
- Patients with enduring symptoms had longer untreated psychosis duration, higher depression, and poorer psychosocial functioning at 12 months.
Conclusions:
- Enduring positive symptoms are associated with longer duration of untreated psychosis.
- Treatment resistance in these cases supports the critical need for early intervention post-psychosis onset.