title: Early intervention for first-episode psychosis in India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There have been very few studies of first-episode psychoses or early intervention programmes in India. This paper describes a pilot intervention programme for first-episode psychosis at the Schizophrenia Research Foundation, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 47 patients with the first episode of psychosis were followed up for 2 years. Based on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for schizophrenia and Global Assessment of Functioning Scale scores, the data from 2 groups of patients, those who had remission and those who did not, were identified and compared. Assessments done at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after recruitment enabled computation of time to achieve remission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete data were available for 38 patients (28 patients in remission group and 10 patients in non-remission group) at 2 years. Baseline scores were not significantly different between the groups. In the remission group, more than 50% attained maximal improvement at 3 months, another 30% at 1 year, and the remaining 20% at 2 years. Maximal reduction in the mean Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale score was seen between 3 and 6 months after recruitment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With regular treatment, most patients with early psychosis achieve remission within 2 years. Negative symptoms persisting for longer than 6 months could be an indicator of long-term outcome. Early intervention is feasible and effective in developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Schizophrenia Research Foundation (India), R/7A North Main Road, Anna Nagar (West Extension), Chennai, India. thara@scarfindia.org
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rangaswamy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mangala
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: John
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D061345:Early Medical Intervention / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors