title: Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre long-term follow-up study of first-episode psychosis: methodology and baseline characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper reports the rationale, methodology and baseline characteristics of a large long-term follow-up study of first-episode psychosis from a geographically defined catchment area.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 723 first-episode psychosis patients were recruited from a specialized early psychosis service between 1989 and 2001 and prospectively followed up at a median of 7.4 years after initial presentation. Participants' baseline demographic, clinical and functional characteristics are described. Sampling bias at study recruitment was assessed by comparison with a more complete sample of Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) cases rated directly from the medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, 57% of the sample were diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder, whereas the full range of psychotic disorders was represented. Statistical analysis confirmed that the sample recruited was representative of total EPPIC-treated incident cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EPPIC long-term follow-up study is a large and epidemiologically representative first-episode psychosis cohort that has been subsequently prospectively followed up over a long period. Such a sample provides a rare opportunity to study the course and outcome of psychotic disorders.
authors.affiliation: ORYGEN Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. lisaph@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Lisa P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Meredith G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: G Paul
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Amminger
authors.forename: Hok Pan
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Susy M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Harrigan
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Conus
authors.forename: Orli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prosser
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farrelly
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Purcell
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herrman
authors.forename: Henry J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Patrick D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: McGorry
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D012107:Research Design