title: Early detection of first-episode psychosis: the effect on 1-year outcome.
abstract: Early intervention is assumed to improve outcome in first-episode psychosis, but this has not been proven.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study whether 1-year outcome will be better in a health care sector with early detection (ED) of psychosis compared with sectors with no early detection (no-ED).
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental study with ED in 2 experimental sectors and no-ED in 2 control sectors. ED was achieved through low-threshold ED teams and information campaigns about psychosis for the public, schools, and primary health care providers. The ED and no-ED health care areas offered an equivalent assessment and treatment program during the first year. Two hundred and eighty-one patients were included; 88% were reassessed after 1 year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ED-area patients (N = 141) had a median duration of untreated psychosis of 5 weeks at baseline compared with 16 weeks for patients in the no-ED area (N = 140). Positive and general symptoms, global assessment of functioning, quality of life, time to remission, and course of psychosis at 1 year after the start of treatment were not different between ED and no-ED groups. Outcome was significantly better for the ED area for negative symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ED, no-ED differences at baseline become attenuated by 1 year but not the difference in negative symptoms, suggesting secondary prevention in this domain of psychopathology. However, this possibility requires further testing by follow-up and replication.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Clinic, University of Stavanger, Armauer Hansensv. 20, PB 8100, N-4068 Stavanger, Norway. tklarsen@online.no
authors.forename: Tor K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Melle
authors.forename: Bjørn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Auestad
authors.forename: Svein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Friis
authors.forename: Ulrik
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Haahr
authors.forename: Jan Olav
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Johannessen
authors.forename: Stein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Opjordsmoen
authors.forename: Bjørn Rishovd
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Rund
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simonsen
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vaglum
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McGlashan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents