title: Sustainability of treatment effect of a 3-year early intervention programme for first-episode psychosis.
abstract: BackgroundEvidence indicates that the positive effects of 2-year early intervention services for psychosis are not maintained after service withdrawal. Optimal duration of early intervention in sustaining initial improved outcomes remains to be determined.AimsTo examine the sustainability of the positive effects of an extended, 3-year, early intervention programme for patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) after transition to standard care.MethodA total of 160 patients, who had received a 2-year early intervention programme for FEP, were enrolled to a 12-month randomised-controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01202357) comparing a 1-year extension of the early intervention (3-year specialised treatment) with step-down care (2-year specialised treatment). Participants were followed up and reassessed 2 and 3 years after inclusion to the trial.ResultsThere were no significant differences between the treatment groups in outcomes on functioning, symptom severity and service use during the post-trial follow-up period.ConclusionsThe therapeutic benefits achieved by the extended, 3-year early intervention were not sustainable after termination of the specialised service.
authors.affiliation: Wing Chung Chang, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Vivian Wing Yan Kwong, MPsyMed, Emily Sin Kei Lau, MSocSc(CP), Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Hon Cheong So, MBBS, PhD, School of Biomedical Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Corine Sau Man Wong MsocSc, Gloria Hoi Kei Chan, MSSc(CP), Olivia Tsz Ting Jim, BSocSc, Christy Lai Ming Hui, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Sherry Kit Wa Chan, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong Hong Kong; Edwin Ho Ming Lee, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Eric Yu Hai Chen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong changwc@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Wing Chung
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Wing Chung Chang, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Vivian Wing Yan Kwong, MPsyMed, Emily Sin Kei Lau, MSocSc(CP), Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Hon Cheong So, MBBS, PhD, School of Biomedical Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Corine Sau Man Wong MsocSc, Gloria Hoi Kei Chan, MSSc(CP), Olivia Tsz Ting Jim, BSocSc, Christy Lai Ming Hui, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Sherry Kit Wa Chan, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong Hong Kong; Edwin Ho Ming Lee, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Eric Yu Hai Chen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Vivian Wing Yan
authors.initials: VWY
authors.lastname: Kwong
authors.affiliation: Wing Chung Chang, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Vivian Wing Yan Kwong, MPsyMed, Emily Sin Kei Lau, MSocSc(CP), Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Hon Cheong So, MBBS, PhD, School of Biomedical Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Corine Sau Man Wong MsocSc, Gloria Hoi Kei Chan, MSSc(CP), Olivia Tsz Ting Jim, BSocSc, Christy Lai Ming Hui, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Sherry Kit Wa Chan, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong Hong Kong; Edwin Ho Ming Lee, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Eric Yu Hai Chen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Emily Sin Kei
authors.initials: ESK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Wing Chung Chang, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Vivian Wing Yan Kwong, MPsyMed, Emily Sin Kei Lau, MSocSc(CP), Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Hon Cheong So, MBBS, PhD, School of Biomedical Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Corine Sau Man Wong MsocSc, Gloria Hoi Kei Chan, MSSc(CP), Olivia Tsz Ting Jim, BSocSc, Christy Lai Ming Hui, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Sherry Kit Wa Chan, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong Hong Kong; Edwin Ho Ming Lee, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Eric Yu Hai Chen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Hon Cheong
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: So
authors.affiliation: Wing Chung Chang, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Vivian Wing Yan Kwong, MPsyMed, Emily Sin Kei Lau, MSocSc(CP), Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Hon Cheong So, MBBS, PhD, School of Biomedical Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Corine Sau Man Wong MsocSc, Gloria Hoi Kei Chan, MSSc(CP), Olivia Tsz Ting Jim, BSocSc, Christy Lai Ming Hui, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Sherry Kit Wa Chan, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong Hong Kong; Edwin Ho Ming Lee, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Eric Yu Hai Chen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Corine Sau Man
authors.initials: CSM
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Wing Chung Chang, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Vivian Wing Yan Kwong, MPsyMed, Emily Sin Kei Lau, MSocSc(CP), Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Hon Cheong So, MBBS, PhD, School of Biomedical Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Corine Sau Man Wong MsocSc, Gloria Hoi Kei Chan, MSSc(CP), Olivia Tsz Ting Jim, BSocSc, Christy Lai Ming Hui, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Sherry Kit Wa Chan, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong Hong Kong; Edwin Ho Ming Lee, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Eric Yu Hai Chen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Gloria Hoi Kei
authors.initials: GHK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Wing Chung Chang, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Vivian Wing Yan Kwong, MPsyMed, Emily Sin Kei Lau, MSocSc(CP), Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Hon Cheong So, MBBS, PhD, School of Biomedical Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Corine Sau Man Wong MsocSc, Gloria Hoi Kei Chan, MSSc(CP), Olivia Tsz Ting Jim, BSocSc, Christy Lai Ming Hui, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Sherry Kit Wa Chan, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong Hong Kong; Edwin Ho Ming Lee, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Eric Yu Hai Chen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Olivia Tsz Ting
authors.initials: OTT
authors.lastname: Jim
authors.affiliation: Wing Chung Chang, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Vivian Wing Yan Kwong, MPsyMed, Emily Sin Kei Lau, MSocSc(CP), Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Hon Cheong So, MBBS, PhD, School of Biomedical Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Corine Sau Man Wong MsocSc, Gloria Hoi Kei Chan, MSSc(CP), Olivia Tsz Ting Jim, BSocSc, Christy Lai Ming Hui, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Sherry Kit Wa Chan, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong Hong Kong; Edwin Ho Ming Lee, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Eric Yu Hai Chen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Christy Lai Ming
authors.initials: CLM
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.affiliation: Wing Chung Chang, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Vivian Wing Yan Kwong, MPsyMed, Emily Sin Kei Lau, MSocSc(CP), Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Hon Cheong So, MBBS, PhD, School of Biomedical Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Corine Sau Man Wong MsocSc, Gloria Hoi Kei Chan, MSSc(CP), Olivia Tsz Ting Jim, BSocSc, Christy Lai Ming Hui, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Sherry Kit Wa Chan, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong Hong Kong; Edwin Ho Ming Lee, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Eric Yu Hai Chen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Sherry Kit Wa
authors.initials: SKW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Wing Chung Chang, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Vivian Wing Yan Kwong, MPsyMed, Emily Sin Kei Lau, MSocSc(CP), Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Hon Cheong So, MBBS, PhD, School of Biomedical Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Corine Sau Man Wong MsocSc, Gloria Hoi Kei Chan, MSSc(CP), Olivia Tsz Ting Jim, BSocSc, Christy Lai Ming Hui, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Sherry Kit Wa Chan, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong Hong Kong; Edwin Ho Ming Lee, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Eric Yu Hai Chen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Edwin Ho Ming
authors.initials: EHM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Wing Chung Chang, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Vivian Wing Yan Kwong, MPsyMed, Emily Sin Kei Lau, MSocSc(CP), Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Hon Cheong So, MBBS, PhD, School of Biomedical Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Corine Sau Man Wong MsocSc, Gloria Hoi Kei Chan, MSSc(CP), Olivia Tsz Ting Jim, BSocSc, Christy Lai Ming Hui, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Sherry Kit Wa Chan, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong Hong Kong; Edwin Ho Ming Lee, MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Eric Yu Hai Chen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Eric Yu Hai
authors.initials: EYH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy; D061345:Early Medical Intervention / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors