Incomplete remission and treatment resistance in first-episode psychosis: definition, prevalence and predictors.
BACKGROUND
Up to 50% of first-episode psychosis patients suffer from long-term incomplete remission or treatment resistance. Different definitions for these terms have been used in psychiatric research, making generalized statements about the prevalence and predictors of treatment resistance difficult.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to give an overview on state-of-the-art definitions of treatment resistance for each of the diagnoses making up the inhomogeneous diagnostic entity 'psychosis' and to analyze the factors leading to treatment resistance.


METHODS
A computerized and manual literature search for relevant articles published within recent years was undertaken.


RESULTS
In addition to symptomatic criteria, patients' functional level and quality of life have to be considered in the definition of treatment resistance. Patient-related, illness-related and treatment-related predictors of treatment resistance and incomplete remission might help to identify subjects at risk and optimize interventions.
Huber
Christian G
CG
University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Psychosis Early Detection and Intervention Centre, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Martinistreet 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany. c.huber@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Naber
Dieter
D
Lambert
Martin
M
D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D017211:Treatment Failure