Symptom and demographic profiles in first-episode schizophrenia.
First-episode schizophrenia (FE-SZP) presents a diagnostic challenge because of symptomatic overlap between the various causes of psychosis. An early and accurate diagnosis is important for the implementation of appropriate treatment, for determining prognosis and for identifying research participants. In an effort to facilitate early diagnosis, we followed a group of first-episode psychosis patients with a presumptive diagnosis of schizophrenia who were subsequently diagnosed at 6-month follow-up with either schizophrenia (n=104) or other psychiatric diagnoses (n=19). The two groups-first-episode schizophrenia and first-episode non-schizophrenia-were compared on measures of demographics, symptoms, quality of life, premorbid adjustment and lateral dominance. Odds ratios were calculated for each variable and all significant variables were entered into a multivariate prediction model. The model showed that higher levels of anhedonia and hallucinations increased the odds of a final diagnosis of schizophrenia. This predictive model was validated in a smaller group of patients.
Schizophrenia Research Center, Neuropsychiatry Section, 10th Floor Gates Building HUP, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283, USA.
Edward I
EI
Gelber
Christian G
CG
Kohler
Warren B
WB
Bilker
Ruben C
RC
Gur
Colleen
C
Brensinger
Steven J
SJ
Siegel
Raquel E
RE
Gur
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D003710:Demography; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs