Untreated illness and outcome of psychosis.
BACKGROUND
There has been controversy as to whether early intervention in psychosis can improve the outcome of the disorder.


OBJECTIVE
To establish if there is an association between duration of untreated psychosis and the 4-year outcome of persons with a first episode of psychosis.


METHODS
Prospective naturalistic follow-up study of the outcome of consecutive first presentations with DSM-IV psychosis attending a community-based psychiatric service.


RESULTS
A longer duration of untreated psychosis was associated with a significantly poorer functional and symptomatic outcome 4 years later. For schizophrenia and schizophreniform disorder, each increment in duration of untreated psychosis was associated with a 7.8 point decrease in global functioning and an increase in positive symptoms scores by 1.9 points.


CONCLUSIONS
This study extends the findings of short-term follow-up studies by confirming an association between duration of untreated psychosis and 'mid-term' outcome.
Clarke
Mary
M
Department of Psychiatry, University College Dublin, and Stanley Resuearch Unit, Cluain Mhuire Family Centre, St John of God Adult Psychiatric Service, Dublin, Ireland.
Whitty
Peter
P
Browne
Stephen
S
McTigue
Orfhlaith
O
Kamali
Moayyad
M
Gervin
Maurice
M
Kinsella
Anthony
A
Waddington
John L
JL
Larkin
Conal
C
O'Callaghan
Eadbhard
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012919:Social Behavior; D013997:Time Factors