title: Symptomatic and functional remission in patients with first-episode psychosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  For patients suffering from psychotic disorders and their caregivers, 'recovery' remains important. Our study aims to examine the rates of both symptomatic and functional remission in first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients at 2 years and identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this naturalistic study, all consecutive FEP patients presenting to an early psychosis intervention programme were recruited. Symptomatic remission was defined by the Schizophrenia Working Group's criteria; functional remission was defined as a Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) disability score of ≥61 with engagement in age-appropriate vocation. Simple and multiple logistic regressions using stepwise method were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 1175 patients, 636 (54.1%) met criteria for symptomatic remission, 686 (58.4%) for functional remission, while 345 (29.4%) met for both. Multiple logistic regression revealed female gender (OR 1.47; 95%CI, 1.12-1.93), those married (OR 1.49; 95%CI, 1.02-2.18), younger age (OR 0.98; 95%CI, 0.95-0.99), tertiary education (OR 1.56; 95%CI, 1.02-2.38), shorter DUP (OR 0.99; 95%CI, 0.98-0.99), lower baseline PANSS negative scores (OR 0.97; 95%CI, 0.95-0.99), and early response at month 3 (OR 1.78; 95%CI, 1.31-2.42), as significant predictors of recovery at year 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that strategies to reduce DUP and achieve early response could improve remission rates in FEP patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Early Psychosis Intervention, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore. swapna_verma@imh.com.sg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Subramaniam
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abdin
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Chong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D061345:Early Medical Intervention; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D011379:Prognosis; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012074:Remission Induction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome