title: Antipsychotic medication and remission of psychotic symptoms 10years after a first-episode psychosis.
abstract: Several national guidelines recommend continuous use of antipsychotic medication after a psychotic episode in order to minimize the risk of relapse. However some studies have identified a subgroup of patients who obtain remission of psychotic symptoms while not being on antipsychotic medication for a period of time. This study investigated the long-term outcome and characteristics of patients in remission of psychotic symptoms with no use of antipsychotic medication at the 10-year follow-up.
  
  
  
  The study was a cohort study including 496 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (ICD 10: F20 and F22-29). Patients were included in the Danish OPUS Trial and followed up 10years after inclusion, where patient data was collected on socio-demographic factors, psychopathology, level of functioning and medication.
  
  
  
  61% of the patients from the original cohort attended the 10-year follow up and 30% of these had remission of psychotic symptoms at the time of the 10-year follow up with no current use of antipsychotic medication. This outcome was associated with female gender, high GAF-F score, participation in the labour market and absence of substance abuse.
  
  
  
  Our results describe a subgroup of patients who obtained remission while not being on antipsychotic medication at the 10-year follow-up. The finding calls for further investigation on a more individualized approach to long-term treatment with antipsychotic medication.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: regitzewils@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Regitze Sølling
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Wils
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: dittegotfredsen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ditte Resendal
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gotfredsen
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark. Electronic address: carsten.hjorthoej@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hjorthøj
authors.affiliation: Psychosis Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Denmark; Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: Stephen.01.Austin@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Stephen F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: nikolai.albert@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Nikolai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: gry_secher@yahoo.dk.
authors.forename: Rikke Gry
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Secher
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: Anne.Amalie.Elgaard.Thorup@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Anne Amalie Elgaard
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Thorup
authors.affiliation: Psychosis Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark. Electronic address: nielmors@rm.dk.
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mors
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark. Electronic address: mn@dadlnet.dk.
authors.forename: Merete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nordentoft
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
keywords: Antipsychotic medication; First episode psychosis; Long-term outcome; Schizophrenia