title: First episode psychosis in an adult area mental health service-a closer look at early and late-onset first episode psychosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the characteristics of all patients presenting with a ﬁrst episode of psychosis between the ages of 16 and 65 years to an adult area mental health service.
  
  
  METHODS
  The early psychosis programme at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne treats all patients presenting in the early stages of psychosis between the ages of 16 and 65 years. A database was developed to capture the demographic and diagnostic characteristics of the group. The characteristics of those with an onset under 26 years were compared with those with a later onset.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A large proportion (55%) of those presenting with first episode psychosis presented after the age of 25 years. There were a higher number of cases of depression with psychotic features in the older onset patients (notably so for those over 40) and a trend towards greater metabolic morbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older patients presenting with a ﬁrst episode of psychosis are relatively understudied but appear to have certain distinguishing qualities. Understanding the needs of these patients is important in tailoring optimal treatment packages and service responses.
authors.affiliation: Consultant Psychiatrist, Mental Health Service, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, VIC and; Honorary Fellow, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia ajit.selvendra@svhm.org.au.
authors.forename: Ajit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Selvendra
authors.affiliation: Consultant Psychiatrist and Deputy Director of Clinical Services, Mental Health Service, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Dominiek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baetens
authors.affiliation: Honorary Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Trauer
authors.affiliation: Senior Research Fellow, Mental Health Service, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, VIC and; Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrakis
authors.affiliation: Chair of Psychiatry, Mental Health Service, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, VIC and; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castle
keywords: early psychosis; older onset psychosis; schizophrenia