Predictors of antipsychotic treatment response in patients with first-episode schizophrenia, schizoaffective and schizophreniform disorders.
BACKGROUND
Duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) may contribute to the observed heterogeneity of the treatment response in first-episode schizophrenia.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship of DUP and premorbid function with clinical outcomes following up to 2 years of antipsychotic treatment.


METHODS
For a subsample (n=191) of subjects participating in a clinical trial, DUP and premorbid function were prospectively compared with clinical response to olanzapine or haloperidol.


RESULTS
Shorter DUP and good premorbid function each independently are associated with better clinical response, including improvement in overall psychopathology and negative symptoms. Premorbid function also is associated with positive symptom, social and vocational outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Earlier antipsychotic treatment is associated with better outcomes in first-episode schizophrenia. Poor premorbid function could indicate an illness subtype less likely to respond to antipsychotic treatment regardless of when it is instituted.
Perkins
Diana
D
Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, 27599-7160, USA.Diana_perkins@med.unc.edu
Lieberman
Jeffrey
J
Gu
Hongbin
H
Tohen
Mauricio
M
McEvoy
Joseph
J
Green
Alan
A
Zipursky
Robert
R
Strakowski
Stephen
S
Sharma
Tonmoy
T
Kahn
René
R
Gur
Raquel
R
Tollefson
Gary
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D006220:Haloperidol; D000077152:Olanzapine