Rates and predictors of remission and recovery during 3 years in 392 never-treated patients with schizophrenia

Early psychosis in central Vietnam: A longitudinal study of short-term functional outcomes and their predictors

BACKGROUND

Few longitudinal studies have investigated the functional outcomes of individuals with recent-onset psychotic illness in low- and middle-income countries.

AIMS

To investigate short-term functional remission and its predictors in a central Vietnamese sample.

METHODS

A naturalistic 6-month prospective cohort study recruited 79 patients of public health facilities who had experienced a first episode of schizophrenia or related illness in the past 18 months. Individuals and their family members were interviewed using standardised assessments of community functioning, symptoms, treatment, demographics and various psychosocial variables. Rates of functional remission (i.e. no or minimal impairment) were calculated based on rigorous, culturally appropriate criteria. Generalised estimating equations were used to explore predictors of remission.

RESULTS

Rates of global functional remission were 28% at baseline and 53% at follow-up. In individual functional domains, remission was least common for occupational activities, intermediate for relationships and relatively common for daily living activities. Global functional remission was significantly associated with absence of negative and cognitive symptoms, average or better household economic status and unimpaired premorbid functioning.

CONCLUSION

Remission rates appeared similar to those seen in many international intervention studies. However, individuals from poor households had markedly unfavourable outcomes, suggesting the need for community-based interventions targeting low-socioeconomic status (SES) groups.

Rates and predictors of 18-months remission in an epidemiological cohort of 661 patients with first-episode psychosis

OBJECTIVES

Most first episode psychosis (FEP) outcome studies are based on patient samples enrolled through an informed consent procedure, which may induce important biases. Our aim was to study the 18-month outcome of FEP in an epidemiological sample of patients treated at the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC).

METHODS

The files of 661 FEP patients treated for up to 18 months between 1998 and 2000 were assessed. Symptomatic remission was defined as receiving a score ≤3 on the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scales, and functional remission as concurrent fulfillment of occupation/employment and independent living. Predictors were analyzed using stepwise logistic regression models.

RESULTS

At endpoint, 63% of FEP patients had reached symptomatic remission and 44% functional remission. Duration of untreated psychosis, baseline symptom intensity, time in service and decrease or remission of substance use, predicted both symptomatic and functional outcome. A history of suicide attempt or non-adherence to medication was linked to lower likelihood to reach symptomatic remission while pre-morbid GAF and employment at baseline were linked to functional outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

The development of early intervention strategies should be pursued, in order both to provide treatment before symptoms reach a high intensity and to maintain social integration. Specific strategies need to promote engagement, facilitate adherence to medication and to create a framework where key issues such as substance abuse co-morbidity can be addressed.

Predictors of favourable outcome in young people with a first episode psychosis without antipsychotic medication

INTRODUCTION

Data from the literature suggests that some first episode psychosis (FEP) patients may recover without antipsychotic medication. There is however no reliable way to identify them. In a previous paper we found, in a cohort of 584 FEP patients, that those consistently refusing medication had poorer pre-morbid functioning, less insight, higher rate of substance use and poorer outcome. However, some medication refusers, had a favourable outcome. The study aim was to identify predictors of good short term outcome despite non-exposure to medication.

METHODS

The Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) admitted 786 FEP patients between 1998 and 2000. Data were collected from patients' files using a standardized questionnaire. Data on medication adherence was available in 584 patients. Among the 17.9% of patients who consistently refused medication over the entire treatment phase we compared patients who had a favourable symptomatic and functional outcome with those who did not.

RESULTS

Among patients who consistently refused medication, 41% achieved symptomatic remission and 33% reached functional recovery. Predictors of symptomatic remission were a better premorbid functioning level, higher education and employment status at baseline. Predictors of functional recovery were a shorter duration of the prodrome phase, less severe psychopathology at baseline and lower cannabis use.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite limitations mainly linked to the fact that non-exposure to antipsychotic medication was based on patient's treatment refusal, this study identified some characteristics which may contribute to the identification of a sub-group of FEP patients who may have good short term outcome without antipsychotic treatment.

Meaning of resilience as described by people with schizophrenia

The aim of the present study was to understand the meaning of resilience, as described by people with schizophrenia. Building resilience is a component of recovery-oriented mental health care, and yet almost no research has been conducted into the resilience of people who live with schizophrenia and who are routinely considered vulnerable. Establishing the meaning of resilience in the context of schizophrenia is an important first step in building understanding. van Kaam's psychophenomenological method was used to interpret 14 interviews with people with schizophrenia who are currently well and living in the community. Resilience is invoked in the tension between opposing forces of challenge and support and in the act of 'striving' to take control of schizophrenia. Striving includes repeated, seemingly backwards steps, and during this, the person takes risks and seeks out and uses supportive people and resources. Those same supportive people and resources can also be challenging. Resilience is an energy embedded in the process of recovery from schizophrenia, and is manifest in an attitude of striving. Taking on challenges and engaging in risk is important within treatment and recovery from schizophrenia.

The Mental Health Recovery Measure Can Be Used to Assess Aspects of Both Customer-Based and Service-Based Recovery in the Context of Severe Mental Illness

Within clinical psychiatry, recovery from severe mental illness (SMI) has classically been defined according to symptoms and function (service-based recovery). However, service-users have argued that recovery should be defined as the process of overcoming mental illness, regaining self-control and establishing a meaningful life (customer-based recovery). Here, we aimed to compare customer-based and service-based recovery and clarify their differential relationship with other constructs, namely needs and quality of life. The study was conducted in 101 patients suffering from SMI, recruited from a rural community mental health setting in Portugal. Customer-based recovery and function-related service-based recovery were assessed, respectively, using a shortened version of the Mental Health Recovery Measure (MHRM-20) and the Global Assessment of Functioning score. The Camberwell Assessment of Need scale was used to objectively assess needs, while subjective quality of life was measured with the TL-30s scale. Using multiple linear regression models, we found that the Global Assessment of Functioning score was incrementally predictive of the MHRM-20 score, when added to a model including only clinical and demographic factors, and that this model was further incremented by the score for quality of life. However, in an alternate model using the Global Assessment of Functioning score as the dependent variable, while the MHRM-20 score contributed significantly to the model when added to clinical and demographic factors, the model was not incremented by the score for quality of life. These results suggest that, while a more global concept of recovery from SMI may be assessed using measures for service-based and customer-based recovery, the latter, namely the MHRM-20, also provides information about subjective well-being. Pending confirmation of these findings in other populations, this instrument could thus be useful for comprehensive assessment of recovery and subjective well-being in patients suffering from SMI.

The Use of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Assessing Functional Change in Treatment Outcome Monitoring of Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia

Background

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that is characterized not only by symptomatic severity but also by high levels of functional impairment. An evaluation of clinical outcome in treatment of schizophrenia should therefore target not only assessing symptom change but also alterations in functioning. This study aimed to investigate whether there is an agreement between functional- and symptom-based outcomes in a clinical sample of admissions with chronic forms of schizophrenia.

Methods

A full 3-year cohort of consecutive inpatient admissions for schizophrenia (N = 205) was clinically rated with the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) and the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) as measures of functioning at the time of admission and discharge. The sample was stratified twofold: first, according to the degree of PANSS symptom improvement during treatment with the sample being divided into three treatment response groups: non-response, low response, and high response. Second, achievement of remission was defined using the Remission in Schizophrenia Working Group criteria based on selected PANSS symptoms. Repeated measures analyses were used to compare the change of HoNOS scores over time across groups.

Results

More than a half of all admissions achieved a symptom reduction of at least 20% during treatment and around one quarter achieved remission at discharge. Similarly, HoNOS scores improved significantly between admission and discharge. Interaction analyses indicated higher functional improvements to be associated with increasing levels of treatment response.

Conclusion

Functional improvement in individuals treated for schizophrenia was linked to a better clinical outcome, which implies a functional association. Thus, improvement of functioning represents an important therapeutic target in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Design and protocol for the Focusing on Clozapine Unresponsive Symptoms (FOCUS) trial: a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

For around a third of people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, the condition proves to respond poorly to treatment with many typical and atypical antipsychotics. This is commonly referred to as treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Clozapine is the only antipsychotic with convincing efficacy for people whose symptoms are considered treatment-resistant to antipsychotic medication. However, 30-40 % of such conditions will have an insufficient response to the drug. Cognitive behavioural therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for schizophrenia when delivered in combination with antipsychotic medication, with several meta-analyses showing robust support for this approach. However, the evidence for the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for people with a schizophrenia diagnosis whose symptoms are treatment-resistant to antipsychotic medication is limited. There is a clinical and economic need to evaluate treatments to improve outcomes for people with such conditions.

METHODS/DESIGN

A parallel group, prospective randomised, open, blinded evaluation of outcomes design will be used to compare a standardised cognitive behavioural therapy intervention added to treatment as usual versus treatment as usual alone (the comparator group) for individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia for whom an adequate trial of clozapine has either not been possible due to tolerability problems or was not associated with a sufficient therapeutic response. The trial will be conducted across five sites in the United Kingdom.

DISCUSSION

The recruitment target of 485 was achieved, with a final recruitment total of 487. This trial is the largest definitive, pragmatic clinical and cost-effectiveness trial of cognitive behavioural therapy for people with schizophrenia whose symptoms have failed to show an adequate response to clozapine treatment. Using a prognostic risk model, baseline information will be used to explore whether there are identifiable subgroups for which the treatment effect is greatest.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN99672552 . Registered 29(th) November 2012.

Prediction of functional remission in first-episode psychosis: 12-month follow-up of the randomized-controlled trial on extended early intervention in Hong Kong

BACKGROUND

Functional remission (FR) is an intermediate and necessary step toward recovery, but is understudied in first-episode psychosis (FEP). We aimed to examine the rate and predictors of FR in FEP patients in the context of a randomized-controlled trial (RCT) comparing a 1-year extension of early intervention (Extended EI, 3-year EI) with step-down psychiatric care (SC, 2-year EI).

METHODS

One hundred sixty Chinese patients were recruited from a specialized EI program for FEP in Hong Kong after they have completed this 2-year EI service, randomly allocated to Extended EI or SC, and followed up for 12 months. Assessments on premorbid adjustment and personality, clinical profiles, functioning, and treatment characteristics were conducted. FR was operationalized as simultaneous fulfillment of attaining adequate functional levels (measured by Social and Occupational Functioning Scale and Role Functioning Scale) and competitive employment at 6 and 12 months. Data analysis was based on 156 subjects who completed follow-up functional assessments.

RESULTS

Thirty-one (19.9%) patients achieved FR status. Multivariate binary regression analysis showed that female gender, lower degrees of premorbid schizoid-schizotypal traits, Extended EI treatment condition, lower levels of positive symptoms at intake, and better baseline functioning independently predicted FR.

CONCLUSION

This is the first RCT providing supportive evidence to an extension of EI service beyond 2-year treatment duration on further enhancing the likelihood of FR attainment in FEP. Our findings that only approximately 20% of patients achieved FR indicate an unmet therapeutic need for promoting sustained adequate functional improvement in the early stage of psychotic illness.

Different outcomes of never-treated and treated patients with schizophrenia: 14-year follow-up study in rural China

BACKGROUND

The long-term outcome of never-treated patients with schizophrenia is unclear.

AIMS

To compare the 14-year outcomes of never-treated and treated patients with schizophrenia and to establish predictors for never being treated.

METHOD

All participants with schizophrenia (n = 510) in Xinjin, Chengdu, China were identified in an epidemiological investigation of 123 572 people and followed up from 1994 to 2008.

RESULTS

The results showed that there were 30.6%, 25.0% and 20.4% of patients who received no antipsychotic medication in 1994, 2004 and 2008 respectively. Compared with treated patients, those who were never treated in 2008 were significantly older, had significantly fewer family members, had higher rates of homelessness, death from other causes, being unmarried, living alone, being without a caregiver and poor family attitudes. Partial and complete remission in treated patients (57.3%) was significantly higher than that in the never-treated group (29.8%). Predictors of being in the never-treated group in 2008 encompassed baseline never-treated status, being without a caregiver and poor mental health status in 1994.

CONCLUSIONS

Many patients with schizophrenia still do not receive antipsychotic medication in rural areas of China. The 14-year follow-up showed that outcomes for the untreated group were worse. Community-based mental healthcare, health insurance and family intervention are crucial for earlier diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation in the community.

Neuroimaging biomarkers to predict treatment response in schizophrenia: the end of 30 years of solitude?

Studies that have used structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggest that individuals with psychoses have brain alterations, particularly in frontal and temporal cortices, and in the white matter tracts that connect them. Furthermore, these studies suggest that brain alterations may be particularly prominent, already at illness onset, in those individuals more likely to have poorer outcomes (eg, higher number of hospital admissions, and poorer symptom remission, level of functioning, and response to the first treatment with antipsychotic drugs). The fact that, even when present, these brain alterations are subtle and distributed in nature, has limited, until now, the utility of MRI in the clinical management of these disorders. More recently, MRI approaches, such as machine learning, have suggested that these neuroanatomical biomarkers can be used for direct clinical benefits. For example, using support vector machine, MRI data obtained at illness onset have been used to predict, with significant accuracy, whether a specific individual is likely to experience a remission of symptoms later on in the course of the illness. Taken together, this evidence suggests that validated, strong neuroanatomical markers could be used not only to inform tailored intervention strategies in a single individual, but also to allow patient stratification in clinical trials for new treatments.

Clinical predictors of therapeutic response to antipsychotics in schizophrenia

The search for clinical outcome predictors for schizophrenia is as old as the field of psychiatry. However, despite a wealth of large, longitudinal studies into prognostic factors, only very few clinically useful outcome predictors have been identified. The goal of future treatment is to either affect modifiable risk factors, or use nonmodifiable factors to parse patients into therapeutically meaningful subgroups. Most clinical outcome predictors are nonspecific and/or nonmodifiable. Nonmodifiable predictors for poor odds of remission include male sex, younger age at disease onset, poor premorbid adjustment, and severe baseline psychopathology. Modifiable risk factors for poor therapeutic outcomes that clinicians can act upon include longer duration of untreated illness, nonadherence to antipsychotics, comorbidities (especially substance-use disorders), lack of early antipsychotic response, and lack of improvement with non-clozapine antipsychotics, predicting clozapine response. It is hoped that this limited capacity for prediction will improve as pathophysiological understanding increases and/or new treatments for specific aspects of schizophrenia become available.

Long-term trajectories of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia: A critical overview

BACKGROUND

Cognitive disturbances are widely pronounced in schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Whilst cognitive deficits are well established in the prodromal phase and are known to deteriorate at the onset of schizophrenia, there is a certain discrepancy of findings regarding the cognitive alterations over the course of the illness.

METHODS

We bring together the results of the longitudinal studies identified through PubMed which have covered more than 3 years follow-up and to reflect on the potential factors, such as sample characteristics and stage of the illness which may contribute to the various trajectories of cognitive changes.

RESULTS

A summary of recent findings comprising the changes of the cognitive functioning in schizophrenia patients along the longitudinal course of the illness is provided. The potential approaches for addressing cognition in the course of schizophrenia are discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the existing controversies on the course of cognitive changes in schizophrenia, differentiated approaches specifically focusing on the peculiarities of the clinical features and changes in specific cognitive domains could shed light on the trajectories of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia and spectrum disorders.

Psychosocial functioning in relation to symptomatic remission: A longitudinal study of first episode schizophrenia

OBJECTIVES

The aims of the study were: (1) to evaluate longitudinally symptomatic remission in first-episode (FE) schizophrenia, (2) to describe symptoms, social functioning and quality of life (Qol) in relation to remission status, and (3) to determine the long-term outcome of schizophrenia and its early predictors.

METHODS

Sixty-four patients were assessed 1 month after a first hospitalization (T1), 12 months (T2), 4-6 years (T3), and 7-11 years (T4) after T1. The patients were allocated to three remission groups according to their remission status over the whole observation period, e.g. stable remission (SR), unstable remission (UR) and non-remission (NR). The PANSS, Social Functioning Scale and WHOQoL were used to evaluate the patients' psychosocial functioning levels, symptomatic and functional remissions and satisfying QoL. A good outcome was defined as meeting, simultaneously, the criteria of symptomatic and functional remissions and satisfying QoL at T4, while failure to meet all of these criteria was defined as a poor outcome.

RESULTS

Among them, 17.2% patients were in stable remission, 57.8% in unstable remission and 25.0% were unremitted at all time points. The SR group had lower levels of psychopathological symptoms and reported better social functioning and QoL than the NR group. During the follow-up, the symptoms increased, social functioning slightly improved and QoL did not change. At T4, 53% of the sample had a poor outcome, which was independently predicted by the longer duration of untreated psychosis and a lack of satisfying QoL at T1.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that: (1) the long-term course in schizophrenia is heterogeneous and that three illness trajectories exist, (2) social functioning and QoL are only partially connected with symptomatic remission (3), the risk of a poor outcome may potentially be reduced by appropriate interventions at an early stage of the illness.

Clozapine for psychotic disorders in adults with intellectual disabilities

BACKGROUND

Psychosis is three times more common in people with an intellectual disability than in those without an intellectual disability. A low intelligence quotient (IQ) is a defining characteristic for intellectual disability and a risk factor for poor outcome in psychosis. Clozapine is recommended for treatment-resistant psychosis. The effect of psychotropic medication can be different in people with intellectual disability; for example, they may be more prone to side effects. People with an intellectual disability and psychosis form a special subgroup and we wanted to examine if there is randomised controlled trial (RCT) data in this population to support the use of clozapine.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effects of clozapine for treating adults with a dual diagnosis of intellectual disability and psychosis.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase and eight other databases up to December 2014. We also searched two trials registers, the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's Register of Trials, and contacted the manufacturers of clozapine.

SELECTION CRITERIA

RCTs that assessed the effects of clozapine, at any dose, for treating adults (aged 18 years and over) with a dual diagnosis of intellectual disability and psychotic disorder, compared with placebo or another antipsychotic medication.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Three review authors independently screened all titles, abstracts and any relevant full-text reports against the inclusion criteria.

MAIN RESULTS

Of the 1224 titles and abstracts screened, we shortlisted 38 full-text articles, which we subsequently excluded as they did not meet the inclusion criteria. These studies were not RCTs. Consequently, no studies are included in this Cochrane review.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There are currently no RCTs that assess the efficacy and side effects of clozapine in people with intellectual disabilities and psychoses. Given the use of clozapine in this vulnerable population, there is an urgent need for a RCT of clozapine in people with a dual diagnosis of intellectual disability and psychosis to fill the evidence gap.

Decrease of functioning in remitted and non-remitted patients 16 years after a first-episode schizophrenia

In schizophrenia, a better level of functioning has been generally associated with symptomatic remission. However, this association has been supported by cross-sectional studies or by studies with a short follow-up period. Forty-eight patients with schizophrenia were evaluated by the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale and the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) at the first episode and after a mean period of 16 years. At follow-up, patients were defined as remitters (R) or non-remitters (NR) according to the Remission Schizophrenia Working Group criteria. R (n = 18; 37.5%) compared to NR showed at the first episode a lower illness severity and a better level of functioning. A functional decline was found in both groups at follow-up, even though NR showed a more than twofold reduction than R. Better SOFAS scores at follow-up were predicted by baseline SOFAS score and less severe negative symptoms at follow-up. Schizophrenia implies a functional decline over time, regardless of the symptomatic remission status with negative symptoms playing a major role.

Magnetic resonance imaging and the prediction of outcome in first-episode schizophrenia: a review of current evidence and directions for future research

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) measures are promising outcome markers for schizophrenia, since regional frontal and temporal grey matter volumes reductions, and enlargement of the ventricles, have been associated with outcome in this disorder. However, a number of methodological issues have limited the potential clinical utility of these findings. This article reviewed studies that examined brain structure at illness onset as a predictor of outcome, discusses the limitations of the findings, and highlights the challenges that would need to be addressed if structural data are to inform the management of an individual patient.

METHODS

Using a set of a priori criteria, we systematically searched Medline and EMBASE databases for articles evaluating brain structure at the time of the first psychotic episode and assessed response to treatment, symptomatic outcome, or functional outcome at any point in the first 12 months of illness.

RESULTS

The 11 studies identified suggest that alterations in medial temporal and prefrontal cortical areas, and in the networks that connect them with subcortical structures, are promising neuroanatomical markers of poor symptomatic and functional outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Neuroimaging data, possibly in combination with other biomarkers of disease, could help stratifying patients with psychoses to generate patient clusters clinically meaningful, and useful to detect true therapeutic effects in clinical trials. Optimization of Treatment and Management of Schizophrenia in Europe (OPTiMiSE), a large multicenter study funded by the FP7 European Commission, could generate these much-needed findings.

The assessment of quality of life in clinical practice in patients with schizophrenia

The aim of the present article is to review QoL scales used in studies investigating patients with schizophrenia over the past 5 years, and to summarize the results of QoL assessment in clinical practice in these patients. Literature available from January 2009 to December 2013 was identified in a PubMed search using the key words "quality of life" and "schizophrenia" and in a cross-reference search for articles that were particularly relevant. A total of n=432 studies used 35 different standardized generic and specific QoL scales in patients with schizophrenia. Affective symptoms were major obstacles for QoL improvement in patients with schizophrenia. Though positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive functioning may be seen as largely independent parameters from subjective QoL, especially in cross-sectional trials, long-term studies confirmed a critical impact of early QoL improvement on long-term symptomatic and functional remission, as well as of early symptomatic response on long-term QoL. Results of the present review suggest that QoL is a valid and useful outcome criterion in patients with schizophrenia. As such, it should be consistently applied in clinical trials. Understanding the relationship between symptoms and functioning with QoL is important because interventions that focus on symptoms of psychosis or functioning alone may fail to improve subjective QoL to the same level. However, the lack of consensus on QoL scales hampers research on its predictive validity. Future research needs to find a consensus on the concept and measures of QoL and to test whether QoL predicts better outcomes with respect to remission and recovery under consideration of different treatment approaches in patients with schizophrenia.

The social functional outcome of being naturalistically treated with paliperidone extended-release in patients with schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Social functioning is an important outcome for patients with schizophrenia. To evaluate the effects of paliperidone extended-release (PAL-ER) on social function, symptomatology, and safety in the routine clinical practice, we conducted a 1-year post-marketing surveillance study of PAL-ER. We also explored relationships between symptomatic improvement and socially functional outcome in patients with schizophrenia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with an established diagnosis of schizophrenia were allowed flexible 3-12 mg/day dosing during the surveillance. Patients were assessed on social functioning using the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) and on symptomatology using the Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia scale. All adverse events (AEs) were also collected.

RESULTS

A total of 1,429 patients were enrolled in the surveillance study, of whom 1,405 were evaluable for safety and 1,142 were evaluable for efficacy. The treatment discontinuation rate for any reason during the observation period was 34.66%. Significant improvements were observed on both Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale and Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia scale during the observation period. The percentage of patients with socially functional remission (SOFAS ≥61) also increased significantly. A significant association between early improvements in positive symptoms, sex, severity of negative symptoms at baseline, and socially functional remission was observed. A total of 33.52% of patients had AEs and 8.75% of patients had serious AEs. Despite the recommendation of monotherapy with PAL-ER, 65.84% of patients were given additional antipsychotics (polypharmacy). Post hoc comparisons of monotherapy versus polypharmacy revealed that the monotherapy group had better outcomes and fewer AEs than the polypharmacy treated group. The improvement in social functioning and the rate of socially functional remission did not differ between groups.

CONCLUSION

PAL-ER treatment showed effective symptom control and improvement in social functioning. The data suggest that early response to antipsychotic treatment should be important for functional outcomes.

Long-term efficacy and safety of blonanserin in patients with first-episode schizophrenia: a 1-year open-label trial

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and safety of blonanserin, a second-generation antipsychotic drug developed in Japan, in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.

METHODS

Twenty-three antipsychotic-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia were treated within an open-label, 1-year, prospective trial of blonanserin (2-24 mg/day). Clinical evaluations were conducted at baseline and 2, 6, and 12 months after the start of treatment. The main outcome measures were changes in subjective well-being and subjective quality of life, as assessed by the Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptic treatment scale Short form-Japanese version and the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale-Japanese version, respectively. Secondary outcome measures included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia-Japanese version, laboratory tests, bodyweight, and extrapyramidal symptoms.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients (60.9%) remained on the study at 1 year. In the intention-to-treat analysis, significant improvements were observed in several subscales on the Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptic treatment scale Short form-Japanese version, the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale-Japanese version, and the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia-Japanese version, and in all factor scores on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Improvement in depressive symptoms with blonanserin treatment was positively correlated with improvements in subjective well-being and subjective quality of life, as well as verbal memory. No significant changes were noted for any safety measure during the 1-year study period.

CONCLUSIONS

Blonanserin was well tolerated and effective for the treatment of first-episode schizophrenia in terms of subjective wellness, cognition, and a wide range of pathological symptoms. Further large-scale studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Three-year longitudinal population-based volumetric MRI study in first-episode schizophrenia spectrum patients

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder associated with structural brain abnormalities already present at the onset of the illness. Whether these brain abnormalities might progress over time is still under debate.

METHOD

The aim of this study was to investigate likely progressive brain volume changes in schizophrenia during the first 3 years after initiating antipsychotic treatment. The study included 109 patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder and a control group of 76 healthy subjects. Subjects received detailed clinical and cognitive assessment and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at regular time points during a 3-year follow-up period. The effects of brain changes on cognitive and clinical variables were examined along with the impact of potential confounding factors.

RESULTS

Overall, patients and healthy controls exhibited a similar pattern of brain volume changes. However, patients showed a significant lower progressive decrease in the volume of the caudate nucleus than control subjects (F 1,307.2 = 2.12, p = 0.035), with healthy subjects showing a greater reduction than patients during the follow-up period. Clinical and cognitive outcomes were not associated with progressive brain volume changes during the early years of the illness.

CONCLUSIONS

Brain volume abnormalities that have been consistently observed at the onset of non-affective psychosis may not inevitably progress, at least over the first years of the illness. Taking together with clinical and cognitive longitudinal data, our findings, showing a lack of brain deterioration in a substantial number of individuals, suggest a less pessimistic and more reassuring perception of the illness.

Substance use in clinical high risk for psychosis: a review of the literature

AIM

In the literature, there is evidence suggesting an association between substance use and psychosis. However, little is known about substance use in those who may be in the pre-psychotic phase, that is, those who are putatively prodromal are considered to be at clinical high risk (CHR) of developing psychosis.

METHODS

We conducted a review of publications measuring patterns and rates of substance use in CHR for psychosis individuals and the effects on the transition to psychosis.

RESULTS

Of 5527 potentially relevant research papers, 10 met inclusion criteria of CHR subjects and specifically mentioned substance use in the sample. The results of these studies varied. Cannabis, alcohol and tobacco/nicotine were reported as the most commonly used substances. There was limited information on the changes in patterns of use over time. Two out of the ten studies found a significant association between the use of substances and subsequent transition to psychosis. In one of these studies, substance abuse was a predictor of psychosis when included as a variable in a prediction algorithm. In the other study, the abuse of cannabis and nicotine was associated with transition to psychosis.

CONCLUSIONS

We found limited evidence to suggest that increased rates of substance use may be associated with transition to psychosis. However, further prospective research examining the association between substance use and transition to psychosis is required before any firm conclusions can be made.

Schizophrenia--time to commit to policy change

Care and outcomes for people with schizophrenia have improved in recent years, but further progress is needed to help more individuals achieve an independent and fulfilled life. This report sets out the current need, informs policy makers and all relevant stakeholders who influence care quality, and supports their commitment to creating a better future. The authors recommend the following policy actions, based on research evidence, stakeholder consultation, and examples of best practice worldwide. (1) Provide an evidence-based, integrated care package for people with schizophrenia that addresses their mental and physical health needs. (2) Provide support for people with schizophrenia to enter and to remain in their community, and develop mechanisms to help guide them through the complex benefit and employment systems. (3) Provide concrete support, information, and educational programs to families and carers on how to enhance care for an individual living with schizophrenia in a manner that entails minimal disruption to their lives. (4) All stakeholders, including organizations that support people living with schizophrenia, should be consulted to regularly revise, update, and improve policy on the management of schizophrenia. (5) Provide support, which is proportionate to the impact of the disease, for research and development of new treatments. (6) Establish adequately funded, ongoing, and regular awareness-raising campaigns that form an integral part of routine plans of action. Implementation of the above recommendations will require engagement by every stakeholder, but with commitment from all, change can be achieved.

[Long-term treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders: focus on pharmacotherapy]

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) constitute a group of psychiatric illnesses which frequently lead to persisting mental impairment. Although some patients show a clinical course with few episodes and good long-term outcome, the course of the disease is often chronic and unfavorable. Long-term treatment (LTT) of SSD pertains to the postacute stabilization period and the remission period following pharmacological and psychosocial therapy of an acute illness episode. This article provides an overview of treatment recommendations concerning long-term pharmacotherapy, dealing with side effects, treatment of non-response and therapy resistance and the treatment of psychiatric comorbidities. Furthermore, an overview of non-pharmacological treatment options is presented. An integrated therapeutic setting combining evidence-based pharmacotherapy, psychosocial interventions, and supportive therapies is recommended for optimal LTT of SSD. Considering the limited financial resources available in the healthcare system, one of the major challenges is to provide patients with access to the evidence-based treatment options available.

Rates and predictors of remission in first-episode schizophrenia within 1 year of antipsychotic maintenance treatment. Results of a randomized controlled trial within the German Research Network on Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE

Full and sustained symptom remission is a major treatment objective after a first-episode in schizophrenia. Findings regarding differences in remission between first- and second-generation antipsychotics are inconclusive. This study aimed to provide rates and predictors of remission in first-episode schizophrenia and to identify symptoms that prevent remission.

METHODS

Prevalence rates of "symptomatic remission" (symptom criteria only) and "enduring remission" (symptom and 6-month time criteria), defined according to Andreasen et al. (2005), were determined in first-episode patients participating in a RCT by the German Research Network on Schizophrenia (GRNS) that compared post-acute, 1-year maintenance treatment with risperidone or haloperidol. Respective predictors at baseline were identified by logistic and Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

Prevalence rates were 91.5% for symptomatic remission (n=152/166 eligible patients) and 58.6% for enduring remission (n=65 of 111 patients who continued for at least 6 months; 39.2% of all 166 patients included), with no significant differences between risperidone and haloperidol in either type of remission. Enduring remission often was not reached because of negative symptoms: After 6 months, 40.5% of the patients had at least 1 negative symptom, whereas only 10.8% of the patients had "persisting" positive symptoms. Of the different predictors identified in univariate analyses, (lower) negative symptoms and participating in standardized psychological treatment remained significant in multivariate (stepwise forward) analyses for enduring remission.

CONCLUSIONS

By far most of the first-episode patients reached a temporary state of full symptomatic remission within 1 year of antipsychotic treatment. However, only about 50% achieved sustained, enduring remission. Negative symptoms are still a major treatment obstacle to enduring remission in schizophrenia.

Risk of symptom recurrence with medication discontinuation in first-episode psychosis: a systematic review

The large majority of individuals with a first episode of schizophrenia will experience a remission of symptoms within their first year of treatment. It is not clear how long treatment with antipsychotic medications should be continued in this situation. The possibility that a percentage of patients may not require ongoing treatment and may be unnecessarily exposed to the long-term risks of antipsychotic medications has led to the development of a number of studies to address this question. We carried out a systematic review to determine the risk of experiencing a recurrence of psychotic symptoms in individuals who have discontinued antipsychotic medications after achieving symptomatic remission from a first episode of non-affective psychosis (FEP). Six studies were identified that met our criteria and these reported a weighted mean one-year recurrence rate of 77% following discontinuation of antipsychotic medication. By two years, the risk of recurrence had increased to over 90%. By comparison, we estimated the one-year recurrence rate for patients who continued antipsychotic medication to be 3%. These findings suggest that in the absence of uncertainty about the diagnosis or concerns about the contribution of medication side effects to problems with health or functioning, a trial off of antipsychotic medications is associated with a very high risk of symptom recurrence and should thus not be recommended.

Predictors of early stable symptomatic remission after an exacerbation of schizophrenia: the significance of symptoms, neuropsychological performance and cognitive biases

Neuropsychological deficits and severity of initial psychopathology have been repeatedly associated with poor symptomatic outcomes in schizophrenia. The role of higher-order cognitive biases on symptomatic outcomes of the disorder has not yet been investigated. The present study aimed to assess the contribution of cognitive biases, psychopathology and neuropsychological deficits on the probability of achieving early symptomatic remission after a psychotic episode in patients with schizophrenia. Participants were 79 patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder undergoing an acute psychotic episode, and 25 healthy controls. According to psychopathology assessments, patients were split into those who had achieved remission after an average follow-up interval of 7 months, and those who had not (NR). Patients who achieved remission exhibited higher premorbid IQ and better performance on the TMT-B, as well as lower baseline positive, disorganized and distress symptoms than NR patients. TMT-B performance and positive symptoms at baseline were the best predictors of remission. Cognitive biases and negative symptoms were not associated with later remission. The findings highlight the significance of initial symptom severity for at least short-term symptomatic outcomes and, thus, the importance of adequate symptomatic treatment and prevention of psychotic outbreaks in patients.

The myth of schizophrenia as a progressive brain disease

Schizophrenia has historically been considered to be a deteriorating disease, a view reinforced by recent MRI findings of progressive brain tissue loss over the early years of illness. On the other hand, the notion that recovery from schizophrenia is possible is increasingly embraced by consumer and family groups. This review critically examines the evidence from longitudinal studies of (1) clinical outcomes, (2) MRI brain volumes, and (3) cognitive functioning. First, the evidence shows that although approximately 25% of people with schizophrenia have a poor long-term outcome, few of these show the incremental loss of function that is characteristic of neurodegenerative illnesses. Second, MRI studies demonstrate subtle developmental abnormalities at first onset of psychosis and then further decreases in brain tissue volumes; however, these latter decreases are explicable by the effects of antipsychotic medication, substance abuse, and other secondary factors. Third, while patients do show cognitive deficits compared with controls, cognitive functioning does not appear to deteriorate over time. The majority of people with schizophrenia have the potential to achieve long-term remission and functional recovery. The fact that some experience deterioration in functioning over time may reflect poor access, or adherence, to treatment, the effects of concurrent conditions, and social and financial impoverishment. Mental health professionals need to join with patients and their families in understanding that schizophrenia is not a malignant disease that inevitably deteriorates over time but rather one from which most people can achieve a substantial degree of recovery.

Subjective well-being in schizophrenia: a randomised controlled open-label 12-month non-inferiority study comparing quetiapine XR with risperidone (RECOVER)

This randomised 12-month open study analysed the effectiveness of quetiapine XR (400-800 mg) versus risperidone (2-6 mg) on subjective well-being in schizophrenia (NCT00600756). Primary objective was to demonstrate non-inferiority of quetiapine XR to risperidone in 6-month responder rate using the Subjective Well-Being under Neuroleptics scale (SWN-K) (per-protocol at Month 6 [PP 6] population). Non-inferiority was defined as the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) greater than -9.7% for the adjusted difference between quetiapine XR and risperidone. Secondary objectives included non-inferiority of quetiapine XR versus risperidone (lower limit of 95% CI greater than -7.5 points) for SWN-K change from baseline to Month 12 (PP 12). 798 patients were randomised (quetiapine XR, n=395; risperidone, n=403); at Month 12, 212 (54%) and 227 (56%) patients, respectively, completed the study. At Month 6, SWN-K responder rate in the PP 6 population was 65% (136/210) with quetiapine XR and 68% (158/232) with risperidone (adjusted treatment difference: -5.7%; 95% CI: -15.1, 3.7); thus, non-inferiority could not be established. SWN-K change from baseline to Month 12 was 23.2 points for quetiapine XR and 21.1 points for the risperidone group; treatment difference was 2.1 (95% CI: -0.8; 5.0); non-inferiority was established (PP 12).

CONCLUSION

SWN-K response at 6 months was comparable between the two antipsychotics. However, with a lower than expected responder rate and a lower than expected number of evaluable patients in the PP 6 population, non-inferiority was not demonstrated. A secondary objective (SWN-K total score) established non-inferiority of quetiapine XR to risperidone at Month 12.

Predictors of recovery in first episode psychosis: the OPUS cohort at 10 year follow-up

BACKGROUND

Recovery, the optimal goal in treatment, is the attainment of both symptomatic and functional remission over a sustained period of time. Identification of factors that promote recovery can help develop interventions that facilitate good outcomes for people with first episode psychosis.

AIM

To examine long-term outcomes within a cohort of people with first episode psychosis in relation to symptom remission, functioning and recovery, 10 years after diagnosis.

METHOD

The study had a prospective design. Participants from the OPUS trial (1998-2000) (n=496) completed a series of interviews and questionnaires to measure current levels of psychopathology and social/vocational functioning, ten years after diagnosis. Predictors of recovery were identified using socio-demographic and clinical characteristics collected at baseline.

RESULTS

A total of 304 participants were interviewed, giving a follow-up rate of 61%. A total of 42 people (14%) met the criteria for symptomatic and psychosocial recovery at 10 years. A multivariable binary logistic regression analysis indicated that baseline predictors accounted for 22% of the variance of full recovery. Lower severity of negative symptoms at baseline (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.53, 95% confidence interval CI 0.36-0.78, p<0.001) and earlier age of diagnosis (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86-0.99, p<0.05) predicted better rates of recovery at 10 years.

CONCLUSION

Results of this study indicated that negative symptoms could play a central role in the process of recovery from schizophrenia. A challenge for clinicians and researchers is to understand the mechanisms behind negative symptoms and develop interventions that can prevent or ameliorate these symptoms in order to promote recovery.

Predictors of symptomatic remission in first-episode psychosis outpatients treated with quetiapine: a naturalistic study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this naturalistic study was to assess course and predictors of symptomatic remission in outpatients with first-episode psychosis during quetiapine monotherapy.

METHODS

In 131 outpatients presenting with first-episode psychosis, socio-demographic and clinical variables including PANSS-8 and CGI-S scores were compared at baseline and follow-up between the subgroups with and without symptomatic remission during 12 weeks of flexible-dose treatment with quetiapine.

RESULTS

Logistic regression revealed a low degree of negative symptoms at baseline, younger age, shorter duration of psychotic episode, early treatment response, and the absence of concomitant diseases as predictors for symptomatic remission whereas general disease severity, PANSS-8 total score, gender, alcohol or substance abuse had no predictive value.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study underlines the predictive value of early treatment response and a low degree of negative symptoms in outpatients with first-episode psychosis. It also confirms the usability of the symptomatic remission criterion as a cross-sectional threshold criterion in clinical practice.

Should early improvement be re-defined to better predict the maintenance of response in first-episode schizophrenia patients?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the predictive validity of early response in first-episode schizophrenia within a 1-year follow-up trial and to compare the resulting cutoff to the currently proposed early response definition (20% improvement by week 2).

METHOD

Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analyses were used to identify the predictive validity of the psychopathological improvement of treatment from week 1 to week 8, regarding the maintenance of response until week 52 as well as to define the most reasonable cutoff in 132 first-episode patients. The Youden Index (maximum of sensitivity and specificity) was used to compare the newly developed and the commonly used early response definition.

RESULTS

Starting with week 6, a reasonable validity to predict the maintenance of response was found (area under the curve = 0.721) with the best fitting cutoff being a 51.6% PANSS total score improvement. Using this cutoff 74 patients (56%) were correctly identified to become responder and maintain response during follow-up (sensitivity: 0.747). The Youden Index was higher applying the newly developed early response cutoff featuring higher specificity compared to the commonly used early response definition.

CONCLUSION

Regarding long-term treatment, it seems more appropriate to base predictions of the patient's maintenance of response not before 6 weeks of treatment.

Predictors of clinical remission following a first episode of non-affective psychosis: sociodemographics, premorbid and clinical variables

The aim of the study was to identify predictors associated with a lower likelihood of achieving a clinical remission 1 year after the first break of the illness. Participants were 174 consecutive subjects included in a first episode programme with no prior treatment with antipsychotic medication. Patients were assigned to haloperidol, olanzapine or risperidone in a randomized, open-label, prospective clinical trial. The main outcome variable was the remission criteria developed by the Remission in Schizophrenia Working Group. Clinical variables were included in a logistic regression analysis in order to predict the remission state at 1 year. At 1 year, 31% of patients met criteria for remission. The logistic regression analysis revealed that the strongest predictors of achieving clinical remission 1 year away from a first episode of non-affective psychosis were the length of duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), the severity of negative symptomatology and the educational level attained at baseline. The results suggest that: (1) patients with a lengthy DUP, a greater severity of negative symptomatology at baseline and with a lower education level are in a higher risk of not achieving a clinical remission during the first year of treatment; and (2) early intervention clinical programs should aim to reduce the length of DUP in order to provide a better outcome for patients.

Psychiatrists' perceptions of the clinical importance, assessment and management of patient functioning in schizophrenia in Europe, the Middle East and Africa

BACKGROUND

It has been estimated that as many as two thirds of patients with schizophrenia are unable to perform basic personal and social roles or activities. Occupational functioning and social functioning, as well as independent living, are considered as core domains of patient functioning. Improvement in patient functioning has also been recognized as an important treatment goal in guidelines and an important outcome by regulatory agencies. Nevertheless, information is lacking on how these aspects are being considered by psychiatrists across the world and how they are being assessed and managed.

METHODS

The 'Europe, the Middle East and Africa functioning survey' was designed to canvas opinions of psychiatrists across these regions to ascertain their perceptions of the clinical importance, assessment and management of functioning amongst their patients with schizophrenia. The survey comprised 17 questions and was conducted from March to April 2011 in 42 countries. Data collected included the demographics of respondents and their opinions regarding personal and social functioning in patients with schizophrenia.

RESULTS

Results were obtained from 4,163 clinicians. Psychiatrists estimated that more than two thirds (70%) of their patients with schizophrenia showed impaired or very poor levels of functioning. The majority of psychiatrists (92%) believed that personal and social functioning was an important treatment goal for patients with schizophrenia, and 91% believed it was an important goal for patients' families. The majority of psychiatrists (55%) assess the personal and social functioning of their patient at each visit; however, 81% reported that they determine the level of functioning through clinical interview and not by using a specific assessment scale. To manage personal and social functioning in their patients, 26% of psychiatrists prefer pharmacological interventions, whereas 46% prefer psychosocial interventions.

CONCLUSION

Psychiatrists recognize that functioning is impaired/very poor in patients with schizophrenia, and there is still an important need to address functioning as a main treatment goal for patients with schizophrenia.

New serotonin/dopamine antagonists for the treatment of schizophrenia: are we making real progress?

The introduction of second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), heralded by clozapine in 1990, represented an important advance in the pharmacologic treatment of schizophrenia. However, several recent comparative effectiveness trials found that non-clozapine SGAs provided little or no advantage in efficacy over first-generation antipsychotics, and all agents had substantial safety and tolerability concerns. Clearly, there remains a great unmet need for more effective and better-tolerated antipsychotics. Relatively potent antagonism of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors coupled with relatively weaker antagonism of dopamine D2 receptors is the central pharmacological characteristic shared by most SGAs. This profile continues to be a favored model for developing new SGAs, commonly defined as serotonin/dopamine antagonists. In the past ten years, aripiprazole, paliperidone, asenapine, iloperidone, and lurasidone have been introduced. Studies suggest that the newer agents have similar short-term efficacy to earlier serotonin/dopamine antagonists, and several demonstrate at least modest improvements in safety and tolerability profiles, particularly metabolic measures. However, as a group, the newer serotonin/dopamine antagonists are pharmacologically heterogeneous, and their side-effect burden can still be considerable. Moreover, their putative clinical advantages have not yet been well demonstrated via direct comparative studies. The absence of such evidence adds to the challenges in defining their place among more established treatment choices, or in providing clinicians with clear indications to guide treatment choices for individual patients. Long-term, head-to-head comparative studies are required to clarify the risk/benefit profiles of the newer antipsychotics and their roles in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Symptomatic and functional remission in patients with first-episode psychosis

OBJECTIVE

For patients suffering from psychotic disorders and their caregivers, 'recovery' remains important. Our study aims to examine the rates of both symptomatic and functional remission in first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients at 2 years and identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with recovery.

METHOD

In this naturalistic study, all consecutive FEP patients presenting to an early psychosis intervention programme were recruited. Symptomatic remission was defined by the Schizophrenia Working Group's criteria; functional remission was defined as a Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) disability score of ≥61 with engagement in age-appropriate vocation. Simple and multiple logistic regressions using stepwise method were used.

RESULTS

Out of 1175 patients, 636 (54.1%) met criteria for symptomatic remission, 686 (58.4%) for functional remission, while 345 (29.4%) met for both. Multiple logistic regression revealed female gender (OR 1.47; 95%CI, 1.12-1.93), those married (OR 1.49; 95%CI, 1.02-2.18), younger age (OR 0.98; 95%CI, 0.95-0.99), tertiary education (OR 1.56; 95%CI, 1.02-2.38), shorter DUP (OR 0.99; 95%CI, 0.98-0.99), lower baseline PANSS negative scores (OR 0.97; 95%CI, 0.95-0.99), and early response at month 3 (OR 1.78; 95%CI, 1.31-2.42), as significant predictors of recovery at year 2.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that strategies to reduce DUP and achieve early response could improve remission rates in FEP patients.

Drug safety and efficacy evaluation of sertindole for schizophrenia

INTRODUCTION

Despite the progress in antipsychotic treatment, modern antipsychotic medication is still associated with side effects, reduced compliance, drug discontinuation and insufficient effects on negative and cognitive symptoms. Sertindole is an antipsychotic compound, with high affinity for dopamine D(2), serotonin 5-HT(2A), 5-HT(2C) and α(1)-adrenergic receptors, which has been reintroduced in the market after extended re-evaluation of its safety and risk-benefit profile.

AREAS COVERED

Sertindole's pharmacological profile, pharmacokinetics, neuophysiological properties, efficacy on positive, negative and cognitive symptoms and safety issues are covered in this article, based on a literature review from 1990 to 2012.

EXPERT OPINION

Based on five double-blind, randomized, placebo-, haloperidol- or risperidone-controlled studies in patients with schizophrenia, sertindole shows a comparable efficacy with haloperidol and risperidone on positive symptoms, while the effect on negative symptoms seems to be superior. Sertindole is generally well tolerated, but is associated with a dose-related QTc interval prolongation (+22 ms). Risk factors for drug-induced arrhythmia, such as cardiac diseases, congenital long QT syndrome, prolongated QTc at baseline, etc. and drug interactions should be considered before prescribing sertindole. To minimize cardiovascular risk, regular ECG recording is required. Sertindole can be an important second-line option for the treatment of schizophrenia for patients intolerant to at least one other antipsychotic. Further comparison with other SGAs and investigations on subgroups (e.g., children, elderly, first-episode, treatment-refractory patients, etc.) are still needed for a precise understanding of the therapeutic benefits and its role in schizophrenia therapy.

Differentiating schizoaffective and bipolar I disorder in first-episode psychotic mania

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to differentiate schizoaffective disorder (SAD) and bipolar-I-disorder (BD) in first-episode psychotic mania (FEPM).

METHODS

All 134 patients from an epidemiological first-episode psychosis cohort (N=786) with FEPM and an 18-month follow-up final diagnosis of SAD (n=36) or BD (n=98) were assessed with respect to pre-treatment, baseline and outcome differences. Second, patients with baseline BD who shifted (shifted BD) or did not shift to SAD (stable BD) over the follow-up period were compared regarding pre-treatment and baseline differences.

RESULTS

SAD patients displayed a significantly longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP; effect size r=0.35), a higher illness-severity at baseline (r=0.20) and more traumatic events (Cramer-V=0.19). SAD patients displayed a significantly higher non-adherence rate (Cramer-V=0.19); controlling for time in treatment and respective baseline scores, SAD patients had significantly worse illness severity (CGI-S; partial η²=0.12) and psychosocial functioning (GAF; partial η(2)=0.07) at 18-months, while BD patients were more likely to achieve remission of positive symptoms (OR=4.9, 95% CI=1.8-13.3; p=0.002) and to be employed/occupied (OR=7.7, 95% CI=2.4-24.4, p=0.001). The main discriminator of stable and shifted BD was a longer DUP in patients shifting from BD to SAD.

CONCLUSIONS

It is difficult to distinguish BD with psychotic symptoms and SAD in patients presenting with FEPM. Longer DUP is related to SAD and to a shift from BD to SAD. Compared to BD, SAD had worse outcomes and higher rates of non-adherence with medication. Despite these differences, both diagnostic groups need careful dimensional assessment and monitoring of symptoms and functioning in order to choose the right treatment.

Profiles of individually defined recovery of people with major psychiatric problems

BACKGROUND

Research on factors associated with individually defined recovery is limited. Several phases of recovery have been described in the literature. Individuals in these distinct phases have different characteristics and problems.

AIMS

To identify classes of people with major psychiatric problems who have comparable profiles of individually defined recovery, to relate these classes to the phases of recovery as described by Spaniol, Wewiorsky, Gagne, and Anthony (2002), and to associate the classes to demographic and psychiatric characteristics, and health-related variables.

METHODS

Data of 333 participants with major psychiatric problems were used. A latent class analysis was conducted on the mean scores of four proxy measures of recovery.

RESULTS

Three well-defined classes were found that differed on the recovery measures. The classes differed significantly on variables corresponding to Spaniol's phases of recovery (Spaniol et al., 2002) and on health care utilization, health care needs and anxiety disorder, but not on demographic variables.

CONCLUSIONS

It is possible to identify classes of people with major psychiatric problems who have comparable profiles of individually defined recovery that seem to correspond to phases of recovery. More knowledge of the characteristics of people in different phases of recovery will contribute to more fine-tuned and recovery-oriented health care.

One-year functional outcomes of naturalistically treated patients with schizophrenia

Against the background of the growing evidence that the patient's functioning significantly influences the course and outcome of schizophrenia, the aims of this analysis were to examine what proportion of patients achieve functional outcome criteria after 1 year, and to identify clinical and sociodemographic predictive factors for functional remission. Patients with the diagnosis of schizophrenia who were treated as inpatients at the beginning of the study were examined within a naturalistic follow-up trial. The present study reports on the time frame from admission to discharge of an inpatient treatment period and the 1-year follow-up assessment. The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale and Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) were evaluated with respect to functional outcome, whereas Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores were rated as psychopathological outcome measures. Functional remission thresholds were defined according to a GAF score of ≥61 points and a SOFAS score ≥61 points. Symptomatic remission criteria were applied according to the remission criteria of the Schizophrenia Working Group. The Strauss-Carpenter Prognostic Scale (SCPS), the Phillips Premorbid Adjustment Scale, medical history, sociodemographic and psychopathologic parameters were evaluated in order to find valuable predictors for functional remission. One year after discharge from inpatient treatment, 211 out of 474 patients were available for analysis according to both rating scales used to assess functional remission (GAF and SOFAS). Forty-seven percent of patients fulfilled criteria for functional remission (GAF and SOFAS) at discharge and 51% of patients at the 1-year follow-up visit. With regard to symptomatic remission criteria, the corresponding remitter rates were 61% of patients at discharge and 54% at the 1-year follow-up visit. Forty-two percent of patients fulfilled both remission criteria at discharge and 37% at the 1-year follow-up visit. A significant association was found between functional and symptomatic remission at discharge and at the 1-year follow-up visit. The strongest predictors for functional remission at the 1-year follow-up visit were: a higher SCPS total score at admission, a lower number of previous hospitalizations, a status of employment, lower scores in all PANSS subscales at discharge, a better premorbid social adjustment, the occurrence of a first psychotic episode, a younger age, a lower PANSS negative subscore at admission, a status of being an early responder, a shorter duration of inpatient treatment, a later age of onset, and female gender.

The effect of paliperidone extended release on subjective well-being and responses in patients with schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the subjective well-being and attitudes toward antipsychotic medication of patients with schizophrenia who had switched to paliperidone extended release (ER).

METHODS

A total of 291 patients with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotics participated in this open-label, 24-week switching study. The primary outcome measures were the Subjective Well-Being under Neuroleptic Treatment Scale-short version (SWN-K) and the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI). The Krawiecka scale, Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia (CGI-SCH), Personal and Social Performance scale (PSP) were used to evaluate psychopathology and psychosocial functioning, respectively.

RESULTS

Data from a total of 243 subjects who received the study medication and had at least one follow-up assessment without a major protocol violation were analyzed. Scores on the DAI and SWN-K showed significant improvement between baseline and end-point measurements beginning during the second week. Scores on the Krawiecka scale, all five subscales of the CGI-SCH scale, and the PSP scale were also significantly improved at the end point compared with the baseline. Significant predictors of improvements in the SWN-K and DAI after a switch to paliperidone ER were baseline scores, reductions in scores on the Krawiecka scale, and previous risperidone use. A clinically relevant increase in body weight (≥7% weight gain) occurred in one-fourth of the participants who completed the 24-week study.

CONCLUSION

Switching to paliperidone ER improved the subjective well-being and attitudes towards antipsychotic medication in patients with schizophrenia. Exploratory analyses revealed that these improvements were particularly pronounced in patients who had been treated with risperidone before treatment with paliperidone ER.

Functional outcomes in schizophrenia: employment status as a metric of treatment outcome

The importance of an adequate and satisfying level of functioning for the course and outcome of schizophrenia has been increasingly emphasized by researchers in recent years. Employment status is a major component of the patient's functioning and is generally believed to be essential for well-being, satisfaction in life, and a better prognosis for schizophrenia illness. This article summarizes recent relevant publications concerning the employment status of schizophrenia patients and its influence on treatment outcome. Given the significant link between employment status and outcome in schizophrenia, different influencing factors of employment are discussed, as they mirror potential treatment targets. Finally, currently available treatment strategies for the improvement of employment status are outlined.

Remission and recovery and their predictors in schizophrenia spectrum disorder: results from a 1-year follow-up naturalistic trial

Remission and recovery are major outcome goals in schizophrenia yet their predictors have not been studied in detail. Therefore, 186 patients were examined regarding remission and recovery including their potential sociodemographic and clinical predictors 1 year after discharge. Remission was defined according to the consensus remission criteria and recovery following the definition by Liberman et al. (2002). Of the 186 patients 54% achieved remission and 26% recovery at the 1-year follow-up. The remission status at discharge was found to significantly influence remission and recovery at follow-up. A higher SOFAS score (P = 0.0002) as well as a positive attitude towards treatment at discharge (P = 0.0038) were identified to be significant predictors of remission at 1-year follow-up. Having a job (P = <0.0001) and being without pharmacological treatment at follow-up (P = 0.0113) were found to be significantly predictive of recovery. Our results underline the need to implement more specific treatment strategies to improve long-term outcome.

[Response and remission in schizophrenic subjects]

BACKGROUND

This naturalistic study investigates in detail symptom reduction during acute inpatient treatment (response), long-term symptom improvement in the post-acute phase (remission) and the rate of re-hospitalisations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 183 patients were enrolled. Criteria for response were PANSS total score and syndrome reductions of 20, 30, 40 and 50%. Remission criteria employed were based on recommendations from Andreasen et al.

RESULTS

The average length of stay was 45.6 days (SD 42.7). PANSS total score response rates were found to be 63.9% for the 20% level and were reduced in the following consecutive levels by approximately 15%. Only 10.3% of the patients remitted during a 1-year follow-up period. At least one re-hospitalisation was reported for 43.9% of the subjects.

CONCLUSION

Compared to previous randomised and controlled trials, the rates of response and remission are significantly lower. In daily inpatient care, the chronic course of schizophrenia is far commoner than expected from previous reports.

Prediction of remission and recovery in young people presenting with first-episode psychosis in Hong Kong: a 3-year follow-up study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the current study was to investigate the rates and predictors of symptomatic remission and recovery in patients presenting with first-episode psychosis 3 years after treatment initiation.

METHODS

Seven hundred participants aged 15-25 years consecutively enrolled in a territory-wide early intervention programme in Hong Kong from July 2001 to August 2003 fulfilled study inclusion criteria, with 539 completing 3-year follow-up. Baseline and follow-up variables were collected via systematic medical file review. The operational criteria for recovery were based on clinical definition incorporating both symptom and functional dimensions.

RESULTS

By the end of 3-year follow-up, 58.8% (n = 317) and 17.4% (n = 94) of participants met criteria for symptomatic remission and recovery, respectively. Around half (51.2%, n = 276) were not remitted either symptomatically or functionally in the last 12 months of follow-up. Of those who achieved sustained symptomatic remission, only 43.1% were also in functional remission. Patients in symptomatic remission had lower rate of admissions, shorter duration of hospitalisations and more favourable psychosocial functioning than non-remitted counterparts. Logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex, older age of onset of psychosis, shorter duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and early symptom resolution predicted symptomatic remission at the end of follow-up. Higher educational attainment, superior baseline occupational status and shorter DUP were found to be predictive of recovery.

CONCLUSION

In a large representative cohort of Chinese young people presenting with first-episode psychosis, although more than half achieved symptomatic remission 3 years after service entry, the rates of functional remission and recovery were low. More intensive psychosocial interventions may be required to further improve patients' functional outcome.

Remission and recovery during the first outpatient year of the early course of schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Although in the early course of schizophrenia relapse prevention is of paramount importance, there is an increasing emphasis on establishing and maintaining sustained periods of symptom remission. Recovery in the early course of illness is also possible, although the rates of recovery are lower than for symptom remission. Symptom remission and recovery rates vary considerably across recent-onset schizophrenia studies because of a lack of consistency in treatment interventions and in applying operational outcome criteria.

METHOD

Patients who were within two years of their first psychotic episode (N=77) that were treated with continuous antipsychotic medication in conjunction with psychosocial interventions (without targeted work rehabilitation) were assessed during the first outpatient year after hospital discharge. Published operational criteria were used to classify symptom remission and recovery.

RESULTS

The rate of full symptom remission maintained for 6 months was 36%, while the rate of recovery for 6 months was 10%. When the same criteria were applied for a continuous period of one year, 22% of patients were found to achieve symptom remission but only 1% of patients met recovery criteria. Using multivariate prediction, the WAIS Comprehension score was a significant predictor of 6 months of good functional outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Although some schizophrenia patients can achieve both symptom remission and recovery in the early course of illness, the overall rate of symptom remission during the first post-hospitalization year is much higher than the rate of recovery. This suggests that interventions targeting work and social functioning are likely necessary to raise the chances of recovery. Cognitive factors can be predictive of good functional outcome even in the early course of schizophrenia.

Remission in schizophrenia: a community-based 6-year follow-up study in Bali

AIM

The purpose of this naturalistic study was to investigate the rate and predictors of remission at medium-term follow up of individuals with schizophrenia in a community setting in Bali.

METHODS

Subjects comprised 37 individuals with schizophrenia, including 19 never-treated cases, screened from 8546 general residents. Outcome was evaluated using the standardized symptomatic remission criteria based on Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scores and operational functional remission criteria at 6-year follow up.

RESULTS

Ten individuals (27%) achieved symptomatic remission, 12 (32%) achieved functional remission, and 10 (27%) achieved complete remission (i.e. symptomatic and functional remission). Lower Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale negative symptom score at baseline and receipt of psychiatric treatment for more than half of the follow-up period were predictors of complete remission.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of community-screened individuals with schizophrenia failed to achieve complete remission at the 6-year follow up. These results suggest that strategies promoting mental health service utilization among individuals with schizophrenia are essential in Bali.