title: Prospective outcome of early intervention for individuals at ultra-high-risk for psychosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Based on previous reports of second-generation antipsychotic agents having a beneficial effect on prodromal symptoms, we investigated the effectiveness and tolerability of atypical antipsychotic therapies in individuals at high risk for developing psychosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined prodromal symptoms and functioning in individuals at ultra-high-risk for psychosis using an uncontrolled prospective design with pre- and post-treatment measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 27 subjects taking antipsychotics during the study period, 15 took part in at least one follow-up assessment. Overall Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States scores significantly improved at the last evaluation point, with a medium-size effect of Cohen's d = 0.54 (95% confidence interval, -0.02 to 1.08) (mean follow-up period = 8.8; SD = 8.3 months). Depression and anxiety symptoms were markedly reduced, and global and social functioning also significantly improved. Of the 27 subjects, two (7.4%) converted to psychosis and 16 (59.3%) experienced at least one treatment-emergent adverse event, but no subjects exhibited serious adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study support treating high-risk individuals with antipsychotics to reduce prodromal symptoms with adequate safety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Clinical Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Neuroscience Institute, SNU-MRC, Chongno-gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: GeumSook
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Do-Hyung
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jung-Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Myung Hun
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Soo Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Go Eun
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Jun Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents