Duration of untreated psychosis as predictor of long-term outcome in schizophrenia: systematic review and meta-analysis

Social network confidants, duration of untreated psychosis and cannabis use in people with first episode psychosis: An exploratory study

AIM

Reduced social network (SN) might be associated with a longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) in people with first episode psychosis (FEP). We aimed at exploring the specific role of SN confidants on DUP, taking into account cannabis misuse, which is known to influence DUP and might be associated with social functioning.

METHODS

People with FEP recently referred to an inner London Early Intervention Service were assessed with standardized instruments exploring SN characteristics, DUP and cannabis misuse.

RESULTS

Taking into account cannabis misuse, we found an association between confidants and DUP (P = 0.020), with the higher the number of confidants, the shorter the DUP.

CONCLUSIONS

Confidants may provide access to, and perceptions of, social support and this may increase early engagement for people with FEP, reducing DUP and possibly improving outcomes. Future research should identify correlates of small networks of confidants, which could inform early detection community initiatives.

The impact of delay in clozapine initiation on treatment outcomes in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia: A systematic review

Approximately one-third of patients with schizophrenia have treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TR-SCZ), which is a condition characterized by suboptimal response to antipsychotics other than clozapine. Importantly, treatment with clozapine-the only antipsychotic with an indication for TR-SCZ-is often delayed, which could contribute to negative outcomes. Given that the specific impact of delay in clozapine initiation is not well understood, we aimed to conduct a systematic search of the Ovid Medline^® database to identify English language publications exploring the impact of delay in clozapine initiation on treatment outcomes in patients with TR-SCZ. Additionally, clinico-demographic factors associated with clozapine delay were examined. Our search identified four retrospective studies that showed an association between longer delay in clozapine initiation and poorer treatment outcomes, even after including covariates, such as age, sex, and duration of illness. In addition, we found six studies that showed an association between age and clozapine delay, but results with regard to other clinico-demographic variables were inconsistent. Overall, the available literature reveals a possible link between delay in clozapine use and poorer treatment outcomes in patients with TR-SCZ. However, given the relatively small number of studies on this clinically important topic, future research is warranted to draw more definitive conclusions.

Can We Reduce the Duration of Untreated Psychosis? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Interventional Studies

Reduction of duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is the key strategy of early interventions for improving the outcomes of first-episode psychosis. Although several controlled interventional studies have been conducted with the aim of reducing DUP, the results are highly inconsistent and conflicting. The current study systematically searches Web of Science and Ovid for English original articles investigating interventions adopted to reduce DUP, compared to a control intervention, up to April 6, 2017. Sixteen controlled interventional studies were retrieved, including 1964 patients in the intervention arm and 1358 in the control arm. The controlled intervention studies were characterized by standalone first episode psychosis services, standalone clinical high risk services, community interventions, healthcare professional training, and multifocus interventions. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted. There was no summary evidence that available interventions are successful in reducing DUP during the first episode of psychosis (Hedges' g = -0.12, 95% CI = -0.25 to 0.01). Subgroup analyses showed no differences within each subgroup, with the exception of clinical high risk services (Hedges' g = -0.386, 95% CI = -0.726 to -0.045). These negative findings may reflect a parceled research base in the area, lack of prospective randomized controlled trials (only 2 randomized cluster designed studies were present) and small sample sizes. There was substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 66.4%), most of which was accounted by different definitions of DUP onset (R2 = .88). Psychometric standardization of DUP definition, improvement of study design, and implementation of preventative strategies seem the most promising avenues for reducing DUP and improving outcomes of first-episode psychosis.

Structured physical exercise and recovery from first episode psychosis in young adults, the FitForLife study

Optimising autonomy is increasingly important in recovery from psychosis. To date, physical exercise has shown promise in the treatment of severe, enduring mental illnesses including psychosis - when used as an adjunct treatment. To assess the association between physical exercise and autonomy in young adults, a simple pre-post experimental design was utilised. Individuals aged 18-35 years, treated at one of three specialist outpatient units for first-episode psychosis in Stockholm, Sweden were invited to participate in a 12-week programme of structured group exercise. Autonomy was measured using four questions from the Camberwell Assessment of Needs questionnaire (physical health, social and close relationship and daily tasks). Comparisons were made between: 'no attendance' and 'any attendance'. The latter group was bisected into higher and lower categories. Ninety-four participants enrolled with a post-intervention response rate of 61%. Significant reductions were seen in self-rated needs for care, though there was no significant change in total scores or evidence of a dose response association. The results suggest a plausible association between physical exercise and autonomy which may represent the recovery process following the first episode of psychosis. Further randomised control trials are needed to explore the potential causality and robustness of this change.

Online Communication about Depression and Anxiety among Twitter Users with Schizophrenia: Preliminary Findings to Inform a Digital Phenotype Using Social Media

Digital technologies hold promise for supporting the detection and management of schizophrenia. This exploratory study aimed to generate an initial understanding of whether patterns of communication about depression and anxiety on popular social media among individuals with schizophrenia are consistent with offline representations of the illness. From January to July 2016, posts on Twitter were collected from a sample of Twitter users who self-identify as having a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (n = 203) and a randomly selected sample of control users (n = 173). Frequency and timing of communication about depression and anxiety were compared between groups. In total, the groups posted n = 1,544,122 tweets and users had similar characteristics. Twitter users with schizophrenia showed significantly greater odds of tweeting about depression compared with control users (OR = 2.69; 95% CI 1.76-4.10), and significantly greater odds of tweeting about anxiety compared with control users (OR = 1.81; 95% CI 1.20-2.73). This study offers preliminary insights that Twitter users with schizophrenia may express elevated symptoms of depression and anxiety in their online posts, which is consistent with clinical characteristics of schizophrenia observed in offline settings. Social media platforms could further our understanding of schizophrenia by informing a digital phenotype and may afford new opportunities to support early illness detection.

Resting-state functional brain networks in first-episode psychosis: A 12-month follow-up study

INTRODUCTION

Schizophrenia is increasingly conceived as a disorder of brain network connectivity and organization. However, reports of network abnormalities during the early illness stage of psychosis are mixed. This study adopted a data-driven whole-brain approach to investigate functional connectivity and network architecture in a first-episode psychosis cohort relative to healthy controls and whether functional network properties changed abnormally over a 12-month period in first-episode psychosis.

METHODS

Resting-state functional connectivity was performed at two time points. At baseline, 29 first-episode psychosis individuals and 30 healthy controls were assessed, and at 12 months, 14 first-episode psychosis individuals and 20 healthy controls completed follow-up. Whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity networks were mapped for each individual and analyzed using graph theory to investigate whether network abnormalities associated with first-episode psychosis were evident and whether functional network properties changed abnormally over 12 months relative to controls.

RESULTS

This study found no evidence of abnormal resting-state functional connectivity or topology in first-episode psychosis individuals relative to healthy controls at baseline or at 12-months follow-up. Furthermore, longitudinal changes in network properties over a 12-month period did not significantly differ between first-episode psychosis individuals and healthy control. Network measures did not significantly correlate with symptomatology, duration of illness or antipsychotic medication.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to show unaffected resting-state functional connectivity and topology in the early psychosis stage of illness. In light of previous literature, this suggests that a subgroup of first-episode psychosis individuals who have a neurotypical resting-state functional connectivity and topology may exist. Our preliminary longitudinal analyses indicate that there also does not appear to be deterioration in these network properties over a 12-month period. Future research in a larger sample is necessary to confirm our longitudinal findings.

Mental illness and the provision of mental health services in prisons

INTRODUCTION

Around 11 million people are held in prisons internationally, and criminal justice systems are overburdened with a high prevalence of multiple psychiatric disorders. In England and Wales over 200 000 people enter prisons each year, and in many cases, this facilitates their first contact with mental health services.

SOURCES OF DATA

Research, evaluations, government reports and independent reviews.

AREAS OF AGREEMENT

Screening, Triage, Assessment, Intervention and Re-integration (STAIR) are necessary components of prison mental health provision, offering an opportunity to improve the wellbeing of a complex population.

AREAS OF CONTROVERSY

There are serious problems with service provision across many parts of the world, with human rights abuses occurring in some States. Screening and service delivery models still require substantial development. In England and Wales, self-harm, self-inflicted deaths and violence are increasing.

GROWING POINTS

Introducing comprehensive mental health models throughout prisons would offer a massive public health initiative, providing new services for the socially disadvantaged. A rights-based framework would be useful in ensuring systemic improvements, especially in low and middle-income countries.

AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH

Mechanisms for screening and triage, specific interventions across a broad range of conditions, and practical re-integration models, should be submitted to research across international sites.

Improving access to Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP): the 2-week wait for cancer comes to psychosis

Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) services aim to rapidly initiate specialist packages of care for those people newly experiencing symptoms. The intention of such rapid engagement is to mitigate the negative effects of a prolonged duration of untreated psychosis. Aiming to achieve a ‘parity of esteem’ between mental and physical health, a new target was introduced by the National Health Service (NHS) England, where 50% of new referrals were expected to receive a concordant package of care within 2 weeks from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. A baseline assessment in late 2014 found that just 21% of all referrals received and accepted met this target within the EIP Team for the North-East London NHS Foundation Trust. This project sought to improve the team’s performance, seeking input from all team members and using an iterative process with the primary aim of meeting the target ahead of its roll-out. It was determined that the relatively high number of inappropriate referrals (34% at baseline) is a key causative agent in delaying staff from processing eligible cases in a timely fashion. These are defined as referrals which do not meet basic eligibility criteria such as no previous treatment for psychosis. Interventions were therefore designed targeting three domains of improving staff awareness of the new target, improving efficiency by changing the case allocation process and improving the referral pathway for external sources. The impact of these changes was re-evaluated over two cycles beyond baseline. By the final cycle, 62% of new referrals were seen within 2 weeks, while inappropriate referrals declined to just 3%. The multi-interventional nature of this project limits its generalisability and further work should be carried out to identify those changes that were most impactful. Nevertheless, focused targeting of the referral pathway may prove to be of benefit to other EIP services struggling with lengthy wait times.

Value of schizophrenia treatment I: The patient journey

BACKGROUND

The aim of the European Brain Council project "The Value of Treatment" was to provide evidence-based, cost-effective policy recommendations for a patient-centered and sustainable coordinated care model for brain disorders. The first part of schizophrenia study examined the needs and gaps in the patients' care pathway.

METHODS

Descriptive analysis was based on an inventory of needs and treatment opportunities, using focus group sessions, expert interviews, users' input, and literature review. Three patient pathways were selected: indicated prevention, duration of untreated psychosis, and relapse prevention.

RESULTS

The analysis identified several critical barriers to optimal treatment. Available health care services often miss or delay detection of symptoms and diagnosis in at-risk individuals. There is a lack of illness awareness among patients, families, and the public; scarcity of information, training and education among primary care providers; stigmatizing beliefs. Early symptom recognition and timely intervention result in better outcome and prognosis; effective management leads to a functional recovery. In the current model of care, there is insufficient cooperation between health and social care providers, patients and families, inadequate utilization of pharmacological and psychosocial interventions, lacking patient monitoring, and low implementation of integrated community care.

CONCLUSIONS

Early detection and early intervention programs, timely intervention, and relapse prevention are essential for effective management of schizophrenia. It requires a paradigm shift from symptom control, achieving and maintaining remission, to the emphasis on recovery. Since the current services are not able to accomplish this goal, changes in mental health policies are needed.

Quick Identification of the Risk of Psychosis: The Italian Version of the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief

Background:

Diagnosing people during the prodromal phase of an incipient psychosis can improve the chance of better outcome. In busy clinical settings, the ideal tool is a brief, easy-to-complete self-report questionnaire.

Objective:

To test the psychometric properties of the Italian version of one of the most used screening tools for the identification of the risk of psychosis, the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief (PQ-B).

Methods:

Cross-sectional design. A convenience sample of college students was enrolled via snowball procedure (n=243; men: 45%). After understanding and signing the consent form, the participants received a booklet containing the following questionnaires: the 21-item Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief (PQ-B); the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and the 74-item Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess the capacity of the PQ-B to identify individuals at risk of psychosis as independently defined based on the combination of GHQ-12 and SPQ thresholds.

Results:

The Italian version of the PQ-B revealed good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and adequate convergent and divergent validity. The Youden method retrieved a cut-off = 7 for the PQ-B frequency score and a cut-off = 22 for the PQ-B distress score. Both PQ-B scores had a perfect (99%) negative predictive value.

Conclusion:

The PQ-B is a promising screening tool in two-stage protocols. The major advantage of the PQ-B is to exclude cases that are unlikely to be at risk of psychosis.

Duration of untreated psychosis and neurocognitive functioning in first-episode psychosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Previous reviews suggest there is minimal evidence for an association between duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and neurocognition. This is based on tallied findings of studies with small samples and neurocognition viewed as a single construct. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis examining the association between DUP and individual neurocognitive domains and tests in first-episode psychosis (FEP).

METHOD

MOOSE and PRISMA guidelines were followed. Forty-three studies involving 4647 FEP patients were included. For studies providing correlations between DUP and neurocognition, 12 separate meta-analyses were performed based on neurocognitive domains/indices. The influence of demographic/clinical variables was tested using weighted linear meta-regression analyses.

RESULTS

The relationship between DUP and most neurocognitive domains/indices was not significant. Longer DUP was associated with a larger cognitive deterioration index, i.e. current minus premorbid intellectual functioning (N = 4; mean ES -0.213, 95% confidence interval (CI) (-0.344 to -0.074), p = 0.003). Findings were homogeneous, with no evidence of publication bias or significant influence from moderators. For studies providing mean and standard deviations for neurocognitive measures and DUP, 20 meta-regressions were performed on individual neurocognitive tests. One significant finding emerged showing that longer DUP was associated with fewer Wisconsin Card Sorting Test-perseverative errors (mean ES -0.031, 95% CI (-0.048 to -0.013), p < 0.001). Exploratory meta-regressions in studies with mean DUP <360 days showed longer DUP was significantly associated with poorer performance on Trail Making Test A and B and higher Full-Scale IQ.

CONCLUSION

There may not be a generalised association between DUP and neurocognition, however, specific cognitive functions may be associated with longer DUP or delayed help-seeking.

Very long-term outcome of schizophrenia

PURPOSE

The principal aim is to review recent data concerning the very long-term outcome of schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. We examine factors that influence outcome, including therapeutic interventions.

METHOD

PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for papers published between 2008 and 2017 reporting on prospective studies of schizophrenia or schizophrenia spectrum with a follow-up period ≥5 years with adequate outcome information. Additional publications were found in reference lists and authors' reference libraries.

RESULTS

The average proportion of patients with symptomatic remission at follow-up ranged between 16.4% in never-treated patients to 37.5% in patients who were systematically treated with antipsychotics. Good outcomes at follow-up were observed in schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum patients on low doses of antipsychotics and in patients with no pharmacological treatment at that time. Early detection and intensive treatment of the first episode as well as the availability of continued psychosocial treatment and support over subsequent years appeared associated with better outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The long-term outcome of schizophrenia is highly variable, depending on access to mental healthcare, early detection of psychosis and pharmacological treatment. Recent data support the effectiveness of low-dose antipsychotic treatment for long-term maintenance in some patients. A proportion of first-episode schizophrenia patients, perhaps 20%, do not need long-term maintenance antipsychotic treatment. That proportion may be higher in schizophrenia spectrum patients. The reasons why these patients do not need the long-term treatment are not well understood. Methods to predict the membership in this subgroup are not yet good enough for clinical use in individual patients.

Where to seek help? Barriers to beginning treatment during the first-episode psychosis

Objective

As decreasing the duration of untreated psychosis has been highlighted as key indicator in relation to improved prognosis, this study aims to identify the access barriers to beginning early treatment of young people in first-episode psychosis (FEP), based on family reports on the experience of perceiving illness and help-seeking.

Method

A qualitative research was carried out with 12 relatives of 12 young people passing through their first psychiatric hospital admission as a result of their FEP. Depth interviews were used for data collection and thematic content method for data analysis.

Results

Barriers to beginning treatment were lack of knowledge and difficulty in recognizing mental illness, lack of knowledge on where to seek specialized treatment, and stigma and resistance to psychiatric treatment.

Conclusion

It was demonstrated that the family members are protagonists in the search for treatment of young people in their FPE, given that the initiative for seeking treatment came from them.

Duration of untreated prodromal symptoms in a Chinese sample at a high risk for psychosis: demographic, clinical, and outcome

BACKGROUND

The duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) has been widely studied. However, for individuals with attenuated psychosis syndrome (APS), it is unclear whether the duration of untreated prodromal symptoms (DUPrS) also has a negative effect on the progression of psychosis. Our aim was to identify demographic and clinical factors contributing to the DUPrS in a large sample of individuals with APS, and to evaluate the association between DUPrS and the conversion to psychosis.

METHOD

A sample of 391 individuals with APS, who were identified through a structured interview for prodromal syndromes, were included in this study, of whom a total of 334 patients had completed at least a 1-year clinical follow-up. A total of 57 individuals had converted to psychosis.

RESULTS

The average DUPrS was 4.8 months for the whole sample. Individuals with a longer DUPrS were likely to be men, non-local residents, with abnormal thought symptoms, a higher severity level of negative symptoms, the lower severity level of general symptoms, and lower level of general function before the onset of attenuated positive symptoms. A DUPrS of less than 2 months, or more than 6 months, lowered the risk for conversion to psychosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggested that the association between the DUPrS and outcome in individuals with APS were likely to be different, which is either long or short DUPrS was not related to future psychosis onset. Individuals with APS were more likely to have a group of features associated with a longer DUPrS.

Long term effect of early intervention service on duration of untreated psychosis in youth and adult population in Hong Kong

AIM

The current study explored the effect of an early intervention (EI) service for psychosis in Hong Kong (EASY) on the reduction of the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) at 10 years, in adolescent and adult patients.

METHOD

Data from three first-episode psychosis (FEP) studies conducted over 10 years using the same DUP assessment was analysed. FEP study 1 year before the EI service (2000) was used as a control, with those aged <25 comprising the youth psychosis control group and those aged over 25 comprising the adult psychosis control group. Data from the EASY service collected in 2010 constituted the youth psychosis EI group and data from an adult EI service collected from 2009 to 2011 constituted the adult psychosis EI group. DUP of EI and control groups was compared. The effect of the mode of onset and family history of psychosis on DUP was studied.

RESULTS

DUP in the adult group was significantly reduced from median of 180 days to 93 days after 10 years (U = 12 906.50, P = 0.01), particularly in those with gradual onset and without family history. However, no significant change of DUP was found in the youth psychosis group.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of the current study provide evidence that EI programmes with public awareness campaign can significantly reduce DUP of adult patients but not in youth group. The effect is more specific in those with long DUP. Further research should explore the specific factors contributed to the long DUP of patients of different age groups so as to establish targeted intervention strategies.

Risk factors for increased duration of untreated psychosis. Results from the FACE-SZ dataset

OBJECTIVES

Reducing the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) may improve the prognosis of schizophrenia. This study investigated the prevalence, and associated risk factors, of long DUP in a large, non-selected sample of community-dwelling schizophrenia patients (SZ).

METHOD

478 community-dwelling stable SZ participants (122 women and 356 men; mean age 32.37±9.86years) were recruited between 2010 and 2016. The mean retrospective DUP was evaluated from both patient and family reports, as well as hospital/psychiatrists records. Long DUP was defined as >2years.

RESULTS

The mean DUP was 1.5years. 80 participants (16.7%) had a DUP>2years. In multivariate analyses, after adjustment for sex, education level, history of childhood trauma and history of maternal schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, long DUP was associated with a younger age of illness onset (19.3±6.67years vs. 22.0±6.51years, adjusted odd ratio aOR=0.91, 95%CI [0.86; 0.97], p=0.003) and cannabis use disorder (20.0% vs. 10.3%, aOR=2.41, 95%CI [1.14-5.09], p=0.02).

CONCLUSION

A high proportion of SZ patients still have a long DUP. The present results suggest that illness onset before age 19years and cannabis use are associated with long DUP in schizophrenia patients. Early psychosis detection programs should prioritize the targeting of these populations.

Prevalence and clinical relevance of interview-assessed psychosis-risk symptoms in the young adult community

BACKGROUND

An efficient indicated prevention of psychotic disorders requires valid risk criteria that work in both clinical and community samples. Yet, ultra-high risk and basic symptom criteria were recently recommended for use in clinical samples only. Their use in the community was discouraged for lack of knowledge about their prevalence, clinical relevance and risk factors in non-clinical, community settings when validly assessed with the same instruments used in the clinic.

METHODS

Using semi-structured telephone interviews with established psychosis-risk instruments, we studied the prevalence of psychosis-risk symptoms and criteria, their clinical relevance (using presence of a non-psychotic mental disorder or of functional deficits as proxy measures) and their risk factors in a random, representative young adult community sample (N=2683; age 16-40 years; response rate: 63.4%).

RESULTS

The point-prevalence of psychosis-risk symptoms was 13.8%. As these mostly occurred too infrequent to meet frequency requirements of psychosis-risk criteria, only 2.4% of participants met psychosis-risk criteria. A stepwise relationship underlay the association of ultra-high risk and basic symptoms with proxy measures of clinical relevance, this being most significant when both occurred together. In line with models of their formation, basic symptoms were selectively associated with age, ultra-high risk symptoms with traumatic events and lifetime substance misuse.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychosis-risk criteria were uncommon, indicating little risk of falsely labelling individuals from the community at-risk for psychosis. Besides, both psychosis-risk symptoms and criteria seem to possess sufficient clinical relevance to warrant their broader attention in clinical practice, especially if ultra-high risk and basic symptoms occur together.

Care Pathways Before First Diagnosis of a Psychotic Disorder in Adolescents and Young Adults

OBJECTIVE

The authors sought to describe patterns of health care use prior to first diagnosis of a psychotic disorder in a population-based sample.

METHOD

Electronic health records and insurance claims from five large integrated health systems were used to identify 624 patients 15-29 years old who received a first diagnosis of a psychotic disorder in any care setting and to record health services received, diagnoses assigned, and medications dispensed during the previous 36 months. Patterns of utilization were compared between patients receiving a first diagnosis of a psychotic disorder and matched samples of general health system members and members receiving a first diagnosis of unipolar depression.

RESULTS

During the year before a first psychotic disorder diagnosis, 29% of patients had mental health specialty outpatient care, 8% had mental health inpatient care, 24% had emergency department mental health care, 29% made a primary care visit with a mental health diagnosis, and 60% received at least one mental health diagnosis (including substance use disorders). Compared with patients receiving a first diagnosis of unipolar depression, those with a first diagnosis of a psychotic disorder were modestly more likely to use all types of health services and were specifically more likely to use mental health inpatient care (odds ratio=2.96, 95% CI=1.97-4.43) and mental health emergency department care (rate ratio=3.74, 95% CI=3.39-4.53).

CONCLUSIONS

Most patients receiving a first diagnosis of a psychotic disorder had some indication of mental health care need during the previous year. General use of primary care or mental health services, however, does not clearly distinguish people who later receive a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder from those who later receive a diagnosis of unipolar depression. Use of inpatient or emergency department mental health care is a more specific indicator of risk.

Association of Hippocampal Atrophy With Duration of Untreated Psychosis and Molecular Biomarkers During Initial Antipsychotic Treatment of First-Episode Psychosis

IMPORTANCE

Duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) has been associated with poor outcomes in schizophrenia, but the mechanism responsible for this association is not known.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether hippocampal volume loss occurs during the initial 8 weeks of antipsychotic treatment and whether it is associated with DUP, and to examine molecular biomarkers in association with hippocampal volume loss and DUP.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A naturalistic longitudinal study with matched healthy controls was conducted at Shanghai Mental Health Center. Between March 5, 2013, and October 8, 2014, 71 medication-naive individuals with nonaffective first-episode psychosis (FEP) and 73 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. After approximately 8 weeks, 31 participants with FEP and 32 controls were reassessed.

EXPOSURES

The participants with FEP were treated according to standard clinical practice with second-generation antipsychotics.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Hippocampal volumetric integrity (HVI) (an automated estimate of the parenchymal fraction in a standardized hippocampal volume of interest), DUP, 13 peripheral molecular biomarkers, and 14 single-nucleotide polymorphisms from 12 candidate genes were determined.

RESULTS

The full sample consisted of 71 individuals with FEP (39 women and 32 men; mean [SD] age, 25.2 [7.7] years) and 73 healthy controls (40 women and 33 men; mean [SD] age, 23.9 [6.4] years). Baseline median left HVI was lower in the FEP group (n = 57) compared with the controls (n = 54) (0.9275 vs 0.9512; difference in point estimate, -0.020 [95% CI, -0.029 to -0.010]; P = .001). During approximately 8 weeks of antipsychotic treatment, left HVI decreased in 24 participants with FEP at a median annualized rate of -.03791 (-4.1% annualized change from baseline) compared with an increase of 0.00115 (0.13% annualized change from baseline) in 31 controls (difference in point estimate, -0.0424 [95% CI, -0.0707 to -0.0164]; P = .001). The change in left HVI was inversely associated with DUP (r = -0.61; P = .002). Similar results were found for right HVI, although the association between change in right HVI and DUP did not achieve statistical significance (r = -0.35; P = .10). Exploratory analyses restricted to the left HVI revealed an association between left HVI and markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial injury, and markers reflecting dopaminergic and glutamatergic transmission.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

An association between longer DUP and accelerated hippocampal atrophy during initial treatment suggests that psychosis may have persistent, possibly deleterious, effects on brain structure. Additional studies are needed to replicate these exploratory findings of molecular mechanisms by which untreated psychosis may affect hippocampal volume and to determine whether these effects account for the known association between longer DUP and poor outcome.

An Update on Promising Biomarkers in Schizophrenia

Given the heterogeneity of symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and current treatment limitations, biomarkers may play an important role in diagnosis, subtype stratification, and the assessment of treatment response. Though many potential biomarkers have been studied, we have chosen to focus on some of the most promising and potentially clinically relevant biomarkers to review herein. These include markers of inflammation, neuroimaging biomarkers, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, genetic/epigenetic markers, and speech analysis. This will provide a broad overview of putative biomarkers that could become clinically relevant in the future, though none currently appear ready to assist the clinician in identifying cases of schizophrenia, subtypes of the disorder, treatment choice, or response. Nonetheless, some biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), may be useful at identifying individuals who may be more highly inflamed, which could drive treatment choice. Though checking CRP is not a standard of practice, this is one example of how biomarkers may drive treatment decisions in the future, supporting precision medicine. Similarly, technological advances may one day allow clinicians to detect changes in speech patterns, which could represent a noninvasive, clinically useful tool in the future. We conclude the review by highlighting two important potential clinical uses for biomarkers in schizophrenia: the identification of individuals who may convert from clinical high risk and the stratification of patients via different biomarkers that may supersede clinical diagnosis. Given the enormous burden of illness of schizophrenia, the search for clinically relevant biomarkers is of great importance to improve the lives of patients with the disorder.

Youth Mental Health Should Be a Top Priority for Health Care in Canada

In this article we have provided a perspective on the importance and value of youth mental health services for society and argued that advancing youth mental health services should be the number one priority of health services in Canada. Using the age period of 12-25 years for defining youth, we have provided justification for our position based on scientific evidence derived from clinical, epidemiological and neurodevelopmental studies. We have highlighted the early onset of most mental disorders and substance abuse as well as their persistence into later adulthood, the long delays experienced by most help seekers and the consequence of such delays for young people and for society in general. We have also provided a brief review of the current gross inadequacies in access and quality of care available in Canada. We have argued for the need for a different conceptual framework of youth mental disorders as well as for a transformation of the way services are provided in order not only to reduce the unmet needs but also to allow a more meaningful exploration of the nature of such problems presenting in youth and the best way to treat them. We have offered some ideas based on previous work completed in this field as well as current initiatives in Canada and elsewhere. Any transformation of youth mental health services in Canada must take into consideration the significant geographic, cultural and political diversity across the provinces, territories and indigenous peoples across this country.

Socioeconomic inequalities in duration of untreated psychosis: evidence from administrative data in England

BACKGROUND

Duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is an important measure of access to care as it predicts prognosis and treatment outcomes. Little is known about potential socioeconomic inequalities in DUP. The aim of this study was to investigate inequalities in DUP associated with socioeconomic deprivation in a national cohort in England.

METHOD

We analysed a cohort of 887 patients with a first-episode in psychosis using the administrative Mental Health Services Dataset in England for 2012/13-2014/15. We used a Generalised Linear Model to account for non-linearity in DUP and looked at inequalities across the whole distribution of DUP using quantile regression.

RESULTS

The median DUP was 22 days (mean = 74 days) with considerable variations between and within the 31 hospital providers. We found evidence of significant inequalities regarding the level of socioeconomic deprivation. Patients living in the second, third and fourth deprived neighbourhood quintiles faced a 36, 24 and 31 day longer DUP than patients from the least deprived neighbourhoods. Inequalities were more prevalent in higher quantiles of the DUP distribution. Unemployment prolonged DUP by 40 days. Having been in contact with mental health care services prior to the psychosis start significantly reduced the DUP by up to 53 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Socioeconomic deprivation is an important factor in explaining inequalities in DUP. Policies to improve equitable access to care should particularly focus on preventing very long delays in treatment and target unemployed patients as well as people that have not been in contact with any mental health professional in the past.

Epidemiology of psychotic depression - systematic review and meta-analysis

Large amount of data have been published on non-psychotic depression (NPD), schizophrenia (SZ), and bipolar disorder, while psychotic depression (PD) as an own entity has received much smaller attention. We performed a systematic review and meta-analyses on epidemiology, especially incidence and prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of PD. A systematic search to identify potentially relevant studies was conducted using four electronic databases and a manual search. The search identified 1764 unique potentially relevant articles, the final study included 99 articles. We found that the lifetime prevalence of PD varies between 0.35% and 1%, with higher rates in older age. Onset age of PD was earlier than that of NPD in younger samples, but later in older samples. There were no differences in gender distribution in PD v. NPD, but higher proportion of females was found in PD than in SZ or in psychotic bipolar disorder (PBD). Risk factors have rarely been studied, the main finding being that family history of psychosis and bipolar disorder increases the risk of PD. Outcomes of PD were mostly worse when compared with NPD, but better compared with SZ and schizoaffective disorder. The outcome compared with PBD was relatively similar, and somewhat varied depending on the measure of the outcome. Based on this review, the amount of research on PD is far from that of NPD, SZ, and bipolar disorder. Based on our findings, PD seems distinguishable from related disorders and needs more scientific attention.

Duration of active psychosis and functional outcomes in first-episode non-affective psychosis

BACKGROUND

The duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) has been associated with negative outcomes in psychosis; however, few studies have focused on the duration of active psychotic symptoms after commencing treatment (DAT). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of DUP and DAT on functional long-term outcomes (3 years) in patients with early psychosis.

METHODS

We evaluated the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) at frequent intervals for 3 years after presentation to determine the DAT for 307 individuals with first-episode psychosis together with DUP and clinical variables. The functional outcomes were assessed using the Disability Assessment Scale (DAS) at three years, and functional recovery was defined as minimal impairment and return to activity. Associated variables, DAT and DUP were included in logistic regression models to predict functional outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic curves and Youden's index were applied to assess the best cut-off values.

RESULTS

DAT, (Wald: 13.974; ExpB: 1.097; p < 0.001), premorbid adjustment, initial BPRS score, gender, age of onset and schizophrenia diagnosis were significant predictors of social functioning, whereas only premorbid adjustment (Wald: 11.383; ExpB:1.009), DAT (Wald: 4.850; ExpB: 1.058; p = 0.028) and education were significant predictors of recovery. The optimal cut-off of DAT for predicting social functioning was 3.17 months for DAT (sensitivity: 0.68; specificity: 0.64; Youden's index: 0.314).

CONCLUSIONS

DAT is strongly related to functional outcomes independent of the DUP period or other variables. As a modifiable variable, the reduction of the DAT should be considered a main focus of intervention from the onset of the illness to improve long-term outcomes.

The interplay of etiological knowledge and mental illness stigma on healthcare utilisation in the community: A structural equation model

BACKGROUND

The stigma of mental illness, especially personal attitudes towards psychiatric patients and mental health help-seeking, is an important barrier in healthcare utilisation. These attitudes are not independent of each other and are also influenced by other factors, such as mental health literacy, especially the public's causal explanations for mental problems. We aimed to disentangle the interrelations between the different aspects of stigma and causal explanations with respect to their association with healthcare utilisation.

METHODS

Stigma and causal explanations were assessed cross-sectional using established German questionnaires with two unlabelled vignettes (schizophrenia and depression) in a random-selection representative community sample (N = 1375, aged 16-40 years). They were interviewed through a prior telephone survey for current mental disorder (n = 192) and healthcare utilisation (n = 377). Structural equation modelling was conducted with healthcare utilisation as outcome and stigma and causal explanations as latent variables. The final model was additionally analysed based on the vignettes.

RESULTS

We identified two pathways. One positive associated with healthcare utilisation, with high psychosocial stress and low constitution/personality related causal explanations, via positive perception of help-seeking and more help-seeking intentions. One negative associated with healthcare utilisation, with high biogenetic and constitution/personality, and low psychosocial stress related explanations, via negative perception of psychiatric patients and a strong wish for social distance. Sensitivity analysis generally supported both pathways with some differences in the role of biogenetic causal explanation.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that campaigns promoting early healthcare utilisation should focus on different strategies to promote facilitation and reduce barriers to mental healthcare.

Mortality Rates After the First Diagnosis of Psychotic Disorder in Adolescents and Young Adults

IMPORTANCE

Individuals with psychotic disorders have increased mortality, and recent research suggests a marked increase shortly after diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE

To use population-based data to examine overall and cause-specific mortality after first diagnosis of a psychotic disorder.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cohort study used records from 5 integrated health systems that serve more than 8 million members in 5 states. Members aged 16 through 30 years who received a first lifetime diagnosis of a psychotic disorder from September 30, 2009, through September 30, 2015, and 2 comparison groups matched for age, sex, health system, and year of diagnosis were selected from all members making an outpatient visit (general outpatient group) and from all receiving a first diagnosis of unipolar depression (unipolar depression group).

EXPOSURES

First recorded diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, mood disorder with psychotic symptoms, or other psychotic disorder in any outpatient, emergency department, or inpatient setting.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Death within 3 years after the index diagnosis or visit date, ascertained from health system electronic health records, insurance claims, and state mortality records.

RESULTS

A total of 11 713 members with first diagnosis of a psychotic disorder (6976 [59.6%] men and 4737 [40.4%] women; 2368 [20.2%] aged 16-17 and 9345 [79.8%] aged 18-30 years) were matched to 35 576 outpatient service users and 23 415 members with a first diagnosis of unipolar depression. During the year after the first diagnosis, all-cause mortality was 54.6 (95% CI, 41.3-68.0) per 10 000 in the psychotic disorder group compared with 20.5 (95% CI, 14.7-26.3) per 10 000 in the unipolar depression group and 6.7 (95% CI, 4.0-9.4) per 10 000 in the general outpatient group. After adjustment for race, ethnicity, and preexisting chronic medical conditions, the relative hazard of death in the psychotic disorder group compared with the general outpatient group was 34.93 (95% CI, 8.19-149.10) for self-inflicted injury or poisoning and 4.67 (95% CI, 2.01-10.86) for other type of injury or poisoning. Risk of death due to heart disease or diabetes did not differ significantly between the psychotic disorder and the general outpatient groups (hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.15-3.96). Between the first and third years after diagnosis, all-cause mortality in the psychotic disorder group decreased from 54.6 to 27.1 per 10 000 persons and injury and poisoning mortality decreased from 30.6 to 15.1 per 10 000 persons. Both rates, however, remained 3 times as high as in the general outpatient group (9.0 per 10 000 for all causes; 4.8 per 10 000 for injury or poisoning).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Increases in early mortality underscore the importance of systematic intervention for young persons experiencing the first onset of psychosis. Clinicians should attend to the elevated suicide risk after the first diagnosis a psychotic disorder.

Is it possible to implement community care based on mental health in Japan? A comparison between decade ago and present on Duration of Untreated Psychosis (DUP)

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, the early detection and treatment of the first episode of schizophrenia (FES) has attracted worldwide attention. In Japan, psychiatric care has changed to an open and accessible framework over the past decade. Therefore, the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is thought to have been shortened. The purposes of this study were to investigate whether recent DUP periods are shorter than they were 10 years ago and whether the DUP at present differs among psychiatric facilities. We investigated the recent DUP at a psychiatric hospital and its satellite clinic.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We examined the differences in DUP, age, sex, referral pathway, living companions, social participation, and schooling history among 3 groups of FES patients: (i) a psychiatric hospital during 1999-2001 and (ii) during 2009-2011, and (iii) a psychiatric clinic during 2009-2011.

RESULTS

The average DUP was 14.3 (SD = 17.5) months for the psychiatric hospital during 1999-2001, 16.0 (SD = 18.7) months for the psychiatric hospital during 2009-2011, and 24.4 (SD = 30.0) months for the psychiatric clinic during 2009-2011. No significant differences were found in the DUP for each facility and during this decade. Also, the differences in the DUP could not be attributed to factors such as living companions or social participation.

DISCUSSION

Increases in the numbers of patients and psychiatric clinics have not led to the early detection of FES. To shorten the DUP in the future, closer cooperation among the medical field, the educational field, and the health and welfare will be needed.

Duration of untreated psychosis and neurocognition in first-episode psychosis: A meta-analysis

Neurocognitive impairment is a well-established feature of first-episode psychosis (FEP). Neurotoxicity hypothesis of psychosis suggests that untreated psychosis before the initiation of first effective treatment is associated with loss of acquired cognitive abilities. However, the outcome of the studies investigating the relationship between duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and cognitive impairment in FEP remains inconclusive. No previous meta-analysis investigating the relationship between DUP and cognitive impairment in FEP has been published. Following the systematic review of FEP studies, a random-effects meta-analysis of the relationship between DUP and neurocognition in schizophrenia was conducted. Current meta-analysis included 27 studies including 3127 patients with first-episode psychosis. Overall, DUP and cognitive abilities were not significantly related, with the exception of evidence for a weak relationship with a single cognitive domain. There was a very small but significant association between longer DUP and reduced performance in planning/problem-solving ability (r=-0.09, CI=-0.14 to -0.03). Current findings do not provide support for the neurotoxicity hypothesis of psychosis.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of diagnosed and non-diagnosed psychotic disorders in the community

AIM

Retrospective studies of first-episode psychosis patients have reported that psychosis often remains untreated for some time. Yet, from clinical samples, the characteristics and number of non-diagnosed untreated psychosis patients in a community can only be estimated. Thus, this short report compares socio-demographic and clinical features of diagnosed and non-diagnosed psychotic individuals assessed in the community.

METHODS

Using telephone interviews, we clinically assessed 2682 community participants (aged 16-40 years) in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland, to examine the characteristics of non-diagnosed psychosis.

RESULTS

Of the 41 detected psychosis patients (1.5% of the sample), 21 (54%) had already been diagnosed and treated. Non-diagnosed individuals experienced a delusional disorder (DD) (n = 10) more frequently than diagnosed individuals (n = 1), but did not differ in other socio-demographic characteristics.

CONCLUSION

Further study of DD should be emphasized, along with increased awareness of the condition in primary healthcare services, as individuals with DD might present themselves for other complaints.

Untreated illness and recovery in clients of an early psychosis intervention program: a 10-year prospective cohort study

PURPOSE

To investigate whether duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and duration of untreated illness (DUI) are associated with measures of both subjective and objective recovery 10 years after a first episode of psychosis.

METHODS

A cohort of 65 clients from an early psychosis intervention program completed a battery of outcome measures 10 years following initial treatment for first-episode psychosis (FEP). The outcomes of interest were self-perceived recovery scores (Maryland Assessment of Recovery in People with Serious Mental Illness Scale) and occupational activity, defined as engagement in work and/or school on a full/part-time basis. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the associations between DUP and DUI with each measure of recovery, adjusting for potential confounding factors.

RESULTS

We did not find a statistically significant association between DUP and either occupational activity (OR = 1.26, 95% CI 0.81-1.95) or self-perceived recovery score (β = - 0.73, 95% CI - 2.42 to 0.97). However, we found a significant negative association between DUI and self-perceived recovery score (β = - 0.52, 95% CI - 0.87 to - 0.16).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that DUI may have a stronger influence than DUP on recovery from FEP at 10-year follow-up. This suggests the potential value in targeted interventions for people with a long DUI to increase the likelihood of achieving recovery after the first episode of psychosis.

Early detection and integrated care for adolescents and young adults with severe psychotic disorders: rationales and design of the Integrated Care in Early Psychosis Study (ACCESS III)

AIM

The Integrated Care in Early Psychosis (ACCESS III) Study examined the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a combined intervention consisting of strategies to improve early detection and quality of care (integrated care including therapeutic assertive community treatment) in adolescents and young adults in the early phase of a severe psychotic disorder from 2011 to 2014.

METHODS

This is a prospective, single-centre, 1-year cohort study comparing an intervention condition (early detection plus integrated care, n = 120) to the historical control condition (standard care, SC, n = 105) for adolescents and young adults aged 12-29 years suffering from a severe, early-phase psychotic disorder (i.e. within 2 years of treatment).

RESULTS

Primary outcome is the rate of combined symptomatic (i.e. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) criteria) and functional (i.e. Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF) ≥ 60 points criterion) remission over at least 6 months at study endpoint. Secondary outcome comprises the comparison of the reduction in the duration of untreated psychosis within the 4-year study duration between integrated care and SC, course of psychopathology, functioning, quality of life, satisfaction with care, cost and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) in comparison to a historical control group.

CONCLUSION

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study assessing the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a combined intervention consisting of early detection strategies and strategies to improve quality of care in both adolescents and young adults with early-phase psychosis. The results will be published in 2016.

Clinical utility of biomarkers of the hand in the diagnosis of schizophrenia

A number of biomarkers were assessed in photos and prints of the hands of 95 patients with a variety of mental disorders to determine whether patients with schizophrenia could be distinguished from the others. Patients were recruited as consecutive admissions from an outpatient psychiatric day hospital population. Fourteen patients were diagnosed with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder and 81 were diagnosed with other mental disorders. A discriminant analysis yielded an overall 80% correct classification, with a sensitivity (schizophrenia patients identified correctly) of 78.6% and a specificity (non-schizophrenia patients identified correctly) of 80.2%. Significant differences were noted in the proximal interphalangeal joint, eponychium of the middle digit and fingernails. To determine biomarker frequency distribution patients with bipolar disorder were then compared to those with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder and then to patients with PTSD. The former yielded an overall 78.6% correct classification, with a sensitivity of 71.4% and a specificity of 85.7% and with similar biomarker frequency distribution for bipolar disorder as for the entire non schizophrenia group. The latter comparison yielded an overall 58.6% correct classification, with no significant differences between the features. The application of these biomarkers in clinical practice could constitute an additional tool for the psychiatrist in cases lacking diagnostic clarity.

Protective Factors for Early Psychotic Phenomena Among Children of Mothers With Psychosis

Background: Early identification of sub-clinical psychotic experiences in at-risk individuals is vital to prevent the development of psychosis, even before prodromal symptoms emerge. A widely-replicated risk factor is having a family member with psychosis. The Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study has shown that better cognitive functioning, a stimulating family environment, and a cohesive community, are protective against psychotic experiences among children; while engaging in physical activity, social support, and a cohesive community are protective for adolescents. In the current study we investigate whether these factors also protect against the development of sub-clinical psychotic phenomena among children and adolescents in this cohort who are at high-risk of psychosis by having a mother with psychosis. Methods: Data were utilized from the E-Risk Longitudinal Twin Study, a nationally-representative cohort of 2,232 twin children born in England and Wales in 1994-1995 followed to age 18. Psychotic phenomena were assessed in private interviews with children at ages 12 and 18, and mothers were interviewed about their own experiences of psychosis when children were aged 10 and 12. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses explored associations between individual, family, and community-level putative protective factors and absence of age-12 psychotic symptoms and age-18 psychotic experiences in children whose mothers had a diagnosis of a psychosis-spectrum disorder and/or reported psychotic symptoms. Results: Higher IQ (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.94-1.00, P = 0.036) and living in a more socially cohesive neighborhood (OR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.79-0.98, P = 0.023) were independently protective against age-12 psychotic symptoms among children of mothers with psychosis. Higher levels of perceived social support were independently protective against age-18 psychotic experiences among children of mothers with psychosis (OR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.87-0.98, P = 0.006). However, there were no significant interactions between these protective factors and maternal psychosis in relation to an absence of childhood or adolescent psychotic phenomena in the full sample, indicating that protective effects were not specific to this group of high-risk children. Conclusions: These findings provide preliminary evidence that preventive interventions for early psychotic phenomena could focus on improving cognition, social support, and cohesiveness of the local community. Given scarce resources these might usefully be targeted at high-risk children.

Psychiatric Disorders and Predictors Hereof Among Refugee Children in Early Adulthood: A Register-Based Cohort Study

Studies show a high level of mental health problems among refugee children and adults. This study aimed to examine psychiatric disorders among refugee children in early adulthood. A total of 15,264 young adult refugees, who obtained residence permission January 1, 1993 to December 31, 2010, were matched 1:6 on age and sex with 99,313 Danish-born children. Rate ratios (RR) of having a first-time in- or outpatient hospital diagnosis with an affective (F30-39), psychotic (F29-30), neurotic (F40-48), or any psychiatric disorder (F00-99) according to ICD-10 were computed. Refugees had higher RRs of psychotic (RR: 1.81, 95%CI: 1.41-2.32) and nervous (RR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.14-1.43) disorders compared with Danish-born children. The RRs of having an affective disorder among refugees was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.60-0.90) compared with Danish-born children. Sex, geographical origin, migrant status, household income, age at residence permission, and accompanied/unaccompanied arrival predicted psychiatric contacts among refugees. A focus on both prevention and treatment in vulnerable groups is needed.

"That little doorway where I could suddenly start shouting out": Barriers and enablers to the disclosure of distressing voices

Hearing distressing voices is a key feature of psychosis. The time between voice onset and disclosure may be crucial as voices can grow in complexity. This study aimed to investigate barriers and enablers to early voice disclosure. In total, 20 voice hearers were interviewed, and Thematic Analysis was used to identify themes. Beliefs about the effect of disclosure on self and others acted as a barrier and enabler to voices being discussed. Voice hearing awareness should be increased among young people, the public, and care services. To support earlier disclosure, measures should be taken to increase skill among those likely to be the recipients of disclosure.

[Symptomatic remission and its relationship to social functioning in Tunisian out-patients with schizophrenia]

INTRODUCTION

The concept of symptomatic and functional remission represents an important challenge in the care of the mentally ill, particularly in patients with schizophrenia. Operational criteria for symptomatic remission in schizophrenia have been proposed by Andreasen et al. (2005). Over the last decade, these criteria have been widely validated; however few studies have been conducted outside developed countries. Moreover, the association of symptomatic remission with functional outcome has not yet been established in developing countries including Tunisia, as there may be variability in the social and familial environment.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the frequency and associated factors of symptomatic remission in a sample of Tunisian out-patients with schizophrenia and to explore the relationship between symptomatic remission and some indicators of social functioning.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried-out on 115 out-patients with schizophrenia (87 males, 28 females, mean age=37.56±10.2 years) in the psychiatry department of the university hospital in Monastir (Tunisia). Nearly all of the patients (98.26%) had been hospitalized at least once in a psychiatric unit. The last hospitalization dated back to 39 months on average (range=6 months to 16 years). Symptomatic remission was assessed by the eight core items of the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS). These are the items P1 "Delusions"; P3 "Hallucinatory behavior" and G9 "Unusual thought content" for the positive dimension, the items P2 "Conceptual disorganization" and G5 "Mannerism and disorders of posture" for the disorganization dimension and the items N1 "Blunted affect", N4 "Social withdrawal" and N6 "Lack of spontaneity and flow of conversation" for the negative dimension. A score of mild or less on all eight-core symptoms constitutes symptomatic remission. This symptom level should have been maintained for six months. The social functioning was assessed by the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) and the Social Autonomy Scale (SAS) exploring personal care, management of daily life, resource management, the relationship with the outside and the emotional life and relationships social. A multivariate analysis using a binary logistic regression was conducted with as a dependent variable "symptomatic remission" and as explanatory variables the associated variables with symptomatic remission in bivariate analysis with age and gender.

RESULTS

The symptomatic remission was observed in 50.4% of patients. The items corresponding to positive dimension (P1, P3 and G9) and the item P2 "conceptual disorganization" had a better predictive value of symptomatic remission. After multivariate analysis, the associated factors of symptomatic remission were the acute of onset (P=0.026), the low score of negative symptoms during the last hospitalization (P=0.017) and the episodic course (P<0.0001). However, age or gender of the patients, educational or socioeconomic level, psychiatric family history, age of onset, duration of untreated psychosis, number and duration of previous hospitalizations, antipsychotic treatment dosage were not associated with symptomatic remission in our sample. The mean score of the SOFAS was 48.47±14.44, and the mean score of the SAS was 56.6±16.84. A significant association was shown between the SOFAS score and the symptomatic remission (P<0.0001) and between the SAS score and the symptomatic remission (P<0.0001). Moreover, a significant association was found between symptomatic remission and occupational activity (P=0.03).

CONCLUSION

The frequency of symptomatic remission according the PANSS criteria in our sample is above the average of the reported rates in literature (30 to 60%). This can be explained by the frequency of symptomatic remission in outpatient versus inpatients, or in relation to the notion of a more favorable course of schizophrenia in developing countries, although this notion is controversial. Remitter patients had significantly an acute onset of disorders, a low score of negative symptoms during the last hospitalization and an episodic course. They also showed a significant trend for better social functioning. In fact, a significant association was shown in our sample between symptomatic remission and social functioning. These results suggest that the concept of remission has important implications for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia.

[Involuntary psychiatric care for inmates in France: Only for "dangerous" patients?]

The unités hospitalières spécialement aménagées (UHSA) are full-time inpatient psychiatric units for inmates in France. Their creation has been associated with several advances in access to psychiatric care for inmates in recent years. However, there is still only one means of involuntary hospitalization for prisoners in France: care by decision of a representative of the state (les soins sur décision d'un représentant de l'état [SDRE]). Interestingly, for SDRE to be recognized as legal by the French judge, the patient must be "a danger to himself or to the others". Thus, there is a major difference with involuntary hospitalization outside the prison, and there are specific criteria for involuntary psychiatric hospitalization for inmates in France. This situation questions the general framework of involuntary psychiatric care and is very inconsistent with French law. Indeed, the goal of the loi n^o 94-43 du 18 janvier 1994 relating to public health and social protection is to ensure equivalent care for all patients, incarcerated or not.

Age at onset and the outcomes of schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of age at onset on the long-term clinical, social and global outcomes of schizophrenia through a systematic review and a meta-analysis. Original studies were searched from Web of Science, PsycINFO, Pubmed and Scopus, as well as manually. Naturalistic studies with at least a 2-year follow-up were included. Of the 3509 search results, 81 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis was performed in Stata as a random-effect analysis with correlation coefficients between age at onset and the outcomes (categorized into remission, relapse, hospitalization, positive symptoms, negative symptoms, total symptoms, general clinical outcome, employment, social/occupational functioning and global outcome). There was a statistically significant (P < .05) correlation between younger age at onset and more hospitalizations (number of studies, n = 9; correlation, r = 0.17; 95% confidence interval, CI 0.09-0.25), more negative symptoms (n = 7; r = 0.14; 95% CI 0.01-0.27), more relapses (n = 3; r = 0.11; 95% CI 0.02-0.20), poorer social/occupational functioning (n = 12; r = 0.15; 95% CI 0.05-0.25) and poorer global outcome (n = 13; r = 0.14; 95% CI 0.07-0.22). Other relationships were not significant. This was the first systematic review of the effects of age at onset on the long-term outcomes of schizophrenia. The results show that age at onset has a small, but significant impact on some of the outcomes of schizophrenia.

Remission and recovery from first-episode psychosis in adults: systematic review and meta-analysis of long-term outcome studies

BackgroundRemission and recovery rates for people with first-episode psychosis (FEP) remain uncertain.AimsTo assess pooled prevalence rates of remission and recovery in FEP and to investigate potential moderators.MethodWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess pooled prevalence rates of remission and recovery in FEP in longitudinal studies with more than 1 year of follow-up data, and conducted meta-regression analyses to investigate potential moderators.ResultsSeventy-nine studies were included representing 19072 patients with FEP. The pooled rate of remission among 12301 individuals with FEP was 58% (60 studies, mean follow-up 5.5 years). Higher remission rates were moderated by studies from more recent years. The pooled prevalence of recovery among 9642 individuals with FEP was 38% (35 studies, mean follow-up 7.2 years). Recovery rates were higher in North America than in other regions.ConclusionsRemission and recovery rates in FEP may be more favourable than previously thought. We observed stability of recovery rates after the first 2 years, suggesting that a progressive deteriorating course of illness is not typical. Although remission rates have improved over time recovery rates have not, raising questions about the effectiveness of services in achieving improved recovery.

Once-monthly injection of paliperidone palmitate in patients with recently diagnosed and chronic schizophrenia: a post-hoc comparison of efficacy and safety

BACKGROUND

The use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics in recently diagnosed schizophrenia remains less explored. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of paliperidone palmitate once-monthly (PP1M) treatment in adult patients with recently diagnosed vs. chronic schizophrenia.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

These post-hoc analyses included two multicenter studies. Study 1 (NCT01527305) enrolled recently diagnosed (≤5 years) and chronic (>5 years) patients; Study 2 (NCT01051531) enrolled recently diagnosed patients only. Recently diagnosed patients were further sub-grouped into ≤2 years or 2-5 years. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score.

RESULTS

In Study 1, 41.5% patients had recent diagnosis (≤2 years: 56.8%; 2-5 years: 43.2%); 58.5% had chronic schizophrenia. In Study 2, 52.8% and 47.2% patients were grouped into ≤2 years and 2-5 years, respectively. PANSS total score showed significantly greater improvement in patients with recently diagnosed vs. chronic schizophrenia. Similar results were obtained for PANSS responder rate, improvements in PANSS, and CGI-S scores.

CONCLUSION

PP1M was efficacious in both recently diagnosed and chronic schizophrenia, with the benefits being more pronounced in patients with recently diagnosed schizophrenia. This adds to growing evidence recommending long-acting antipsychotic interventions at early stages of schizophrenia.

Relationship between Duration of Untreated Psychosis and Intrinsic Corticostriatal Connectivity in Patients with Early Phase Schizophrenia

Patients with first-episode psychosis experience psychotic symptoms for a mean of up to 2 years prior to initiation of treatment, and long duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Meanwhile, evidence compiled from numerous studies suggests that longer DUP is not associated with structural brain abnormalities. To date, few studies have examined the relationship between DUP and functional neuroimaging measures. In the present study, we used seed-based resting-state functional connectivity to examine the impact of DUP on corticostriatal circuitry. We included 83 patients with early phase schizophrenia and minimal exposure to antipsychotic drugs (<2 years), who underwent resting state scanning while entering 12 weeks of prospective treatment with second-generation antipsychotic drugs. Functional connectivity maps of the striatum were generated and examined in relation to DUP as a covariate. Mediation analyses were performed on a composite measure of corticostriatal connectivity derived from the significant results of our DUP analysis. We found that longer DUP correlated with worse response to treatment as well as overall decreased functional connectivity between striatal nodes and specific regions within frontal and parietal cortices. Moreover, the relationship between DUP and treatment response was significantly mediated by corticostriatal connectivity. Our results indicate that variation in corticostriatal circuitry may play a role in the relationship between longer DUP and worsened response to treatment. Future prospective studies are necessary to further characterize potential causal links between DUP, striatal circuitry and clinical outcomes.

Improving outcomes of first-episode psychosis: an overview

Outcomes of psychotic disorders are associated with high personal, familiar, societal and clinical burden. There is thus an urgent clinical and societal need for improving those outcomes. Recent advances in research knowledge have opened new opportunities for ameliorating outcomes of psychosis during its early clinical stages. This paper critically reviews these opportunities, summarizing the state-of-the-art knowledge and focusing on recent discoveries and future avenues for first episode research and clinical interventions. Candidate targets for primary universal prevention of psychosis at the population level are discussed. Potentials offered by primary selective prevention in asymptomatic subgroups (stage 0) are presented. Achievements of primary selected prevention in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis (stage 1) are summarized, along with challenges and limitations of its implementation in clinical practice. Early intervention and secondary prevention strategies at the time of a first episode of psychosis (stage 2) are critically discussed, with a particular focus on minimizing the duration of untreated psychosis, improving treatment response, increasing patients' satisfaction with treatment, reducing illicit substance abuse and preventing relapses. Early intervention and tertiary prevention strategies at the time of an incomplete recovery (stage 3) are further discussed, in particular with respect to addressing treatment resistance, improving well-being and social skills with reduction of burden on the family, treatment of comorbid substance use, and prevention of multiple relapses and disease progression. In conclusion, to improve outcomes of a complex, heterogeneous syndrome such as psychosis, it is necessary to globally adopt complex models integrating a clinical staging framework and coordinated specialty care programmes that offer pre-emptive interventions to high-risk groups identified across the early stages of the disorder. Only a systematic implementation of these models of care in the national health care systems will render these strategies accessible to the 23 million people worldwide suffering from the most severe psychiatric disorders.

Application of Proteomic Techniques for Improved Stratification and Treatment of Schizophrenia Patients

For major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, there have been shortcomings in the translation of scientific findings into new treatments and this has led to diminished interest for large pharmaceutical companies. This chapter describes how incorporation of proteomic approaches into the clinical pipeline can lead to identification and implementation of biomarker tests for improved patient characterization, prediction of treatment response and monitoring treatment effects to help revitalize efforts in this important area. In addition, the construction of specific biomarker tests for disease prediction should smooth the progress of early intervention strategies which, in turn, may help to slow disease onset or progression. Finally, the development of purpose-built biomarker tests using lab-on-a-chip platforms with smartphone readouts will help to shift the diagnosis and treatment of this major psychiatric disorder into point-of-care settings for increased effectiveness and improved patient outcomes.

The effect of duration of untreated psychosis and treatment delay on the outcomes of prolonged early intervention in psychotic disorders

The duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) has been shown to have an effect on outcome after first-episode psychosis. The premise of specialized early intervention (SEI) services is that intervention in the early years of illness can affect long-term outcomes. In this study, we investigate whether DUP affects treatment response after 5 years of SEI treatment compared to 2 years of SEI treatment. As part of a randomized controlled trial testing the effect of prolonged SEI treatment 400 participants diagnosed within the schizophrenia spectrum were recruited. For this specific study participants were dichotomized based on DUP, treatment delay, and time from first symptom until start of SEI treatment. The groups were analyzed with regard to treatment response on psychopathology, level of functioning, and cognitive functioning. The participants with a short DUP had a tendency to respond better to the prolonged treatment with regards to disorganized and negative dimension. For participants with short duration from first symptom until start of SEI treatment there was a significant difference on the negative dimension favoring the prolonged OPUS treatment. The finding of an effect of prolonged treatment for participants with a short total treatment delay could mean that prolonged SEI treatment is more beneficial than treatment as usual (TAU) so long as it is provided in the early years of illness and not just in the early years after diagnosis.

TREATMENT TIMING

THE EARLIER THE BETTER: The duration of untreated psychosis influences the long-term outcomes of treatment. Nikolai Albert, at the Copenhagen Mental Health Centre, and a team of Danish researchers have investigated the effects of a specialized early intervention program (OPUS) in 400 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and compared the effects of OPUS after two and five years. Their findings suggest that five years of specialized early intervention was most beneficial when the total duration from symptom start to treatment was shorter than 6 months. The treatment was particularly effective at improving patients' disorganized behavior and negative symptoms such as blunted emotions and lack of motivation. These findings support previous studies suggesting that patients are more responsive to treatment in the early years of illness and highlight the importance of avoiding delays within the mental health service provision.