Olfactory identification deficits in first-episode psychosis may predict patients at risk for persistent negative and disorganized or cognitive symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
One-third of patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder have a measurable olfactory identification deficit at first examination. The authors studied the relationship of this deficit to symptom remission after 1 year of treatment.


METHODS
Fifty-eight patients naive to antipsychotic medication who entered the Nova Scotia Early Psychosis Program were symptomatically rated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) (at baseline and 1 year). At baseline, the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) was also completed. Remission was determined for four symptom factors derived from the PANSS (positive, negative, cognitive/disorganized, and anxiety/depression). Patients with and without remission were compared on UPSIT scores.


RESULTS
Patients with nonremission of negative and cognitive/disorganized symptoms had significantly lower baseline UPSIT scores compared with patients with remission. UPSIT scores were unrelated to remission of positive or anxiety/depression symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
UPSIT scores can be used to identify patients at risk for persistent negative and disorganized/cognitive symptoms.
Good
Kimberley P
KP
Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. kimpgood@dal.ca
Whitehorn
David
D
Rui
Qing
Q
Milliken
Heather
H
Kopala
Lili C
LC
D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009812:Odorants; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology