Psychological Medicine
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 39 / Issue 09 / September 2009, pp 1447-1456
- Copyright © 2009 Cambridge University Press
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S003329170800514X (About DOI), Published online: 03 February 2009
Original Articles
Predictors of 10-year outcome of first-episode psychosis
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Abstract
Background Predictors of outcome for psychosis are poorly understood. Duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) appears to predict short-term outcome although its medium- to long-term role remains unclear. Neurodevelopmental indices such as pre-morbid function and/or neurological soft signs may predict longer-term outcome. We aimed to assess the impact of a range of clinical and demographic variables on long-term outcome of a geographically defined, epidemiological first-episode psychosis cohort.
Method A 10-year follow-up was undertaken of a consecutively presenting sample of 109 cases of first-episode psychosis aged 16–50 years. Baseline assessments included positive, negative and depression symptoms, DUP, neurological soft signs and pre-morbid functioning. Multi-dimensional outcomes were assessed blind to baseline data.
Results All participants were traced at a mean of 10.5 years post-index admission: 11 had died, 10 from non-natural causes. Of the surviving cases, 70% were comprehensively re-assessed by interview. Summary data on the remainder were collected from their family practitioner and chart review. Poor 10-year outcomes were predicted independently by poor pre-morbid functioning, baseline negative symptoms and longer DUP. The same measures, plus neurological soft signs, appeared to predict outcomes in a DSM-IV schizophrenia/schizo-affective subgroup.
Conclusions Poor pre-morbid functioning, baseline symptoms, DUP and neurological soft signs at onset independently predict poor long-term outcome in first-episode psychosis.
(Received January 22 2008)
(Revised November 12 2008)
(Accepted December 11 2008)
(Online publication February 03 2009)
Key Words:First-episode psychosis; long-term follow-up; outcome predictors
Correspondence:
c1 Address for correspondence: J. Stirling, D.Phil., Department of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Hathersage Road, Manchester M13 0JA, UK. (Email: j.stirling@mmu.ac.uk)
