First-episode psychosis: a comparative review of diagnostic evolution and predictive variables in adolescents versus adults.
OBJECTIVE
To review the diagnostic evolution and predictive variables of diagnosis and outcome in first-episode psychosis in adolescents (age 13-19 years) and adults.


METHODS
Literature was reviewed through MEDLINE, Psycinfo, and PubMed, and supplemented by selected bibliographies.


RESULTS
First-episode psychosis in the adolescent population has greater diagnostic instability than in adults. We identified trends in the predictive variables of diagnosis and outcome: 1) Premorbid adjustment (that is, personality) in adolescents and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) both before and after first-episode psychosis in adolescents and adults are the best predictors of diagnosis; 2) GAF (before and after) is the best predictor of outcome in both adolescents and adults.


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescent-onset psychosis appears to be in continuity with adult-onset psychosis. The greater diagnostic instability in adolescents and the absence of significant data on predictive variables suggest a need for specialized and continuous care and research in the adolescent population.
Menezes
N M
NM
Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec. nmenez@po-mcgill.ca
Milovan
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index