A systematic review of longitudinal outcome studies of first-episode psychosis

Therapeutic potential of gamma entrainment using sensory stimulation for cognitive symptoms associated with schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder with significant morbidity. Treatment options that address the spectrum of symptoms are limited, highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic approaches. Gamma Entrainment Using Sensory Stimulation (GENUS) is an emerging treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders that uses sensory stimulation to entrain impaired oscillatory network activity and restore brain function. Aberrant oscillatory activity often underlies the symptoms experienced by patients with schizophrenia. We propose that GENUS has therapeutic potential for schizophrenia. This paper reviews the current status of schizophrenia treatment and explores the use of sensory stimulation as an adjunctive treatment, specifically through gamma entrainment. Impaired gamma frequency entrainment is observed in patients, particularly in response to auditory and visual stimuli. Thus, sensory stimulation, such as music listening, may have therapeutic potential for individuals with schizophrenia. GENUS holds novel therapeutic potential to improve the lives of individuals with schizophrenia, but further research is required to determine the efficacy of GENUS, optimize its delivery and therapeutic window, and develop strategies for its implementation in specific patient populations.

Long-Term Course of Remission and Recovery in Psychotic Disorders

OBJECTIVE

Understanding prognosis is critical to anticipating public health needs and providing care to individuals with psychotic disorders. However, the long-term course of remission and recovery remains unclear. In this study, the most common trajectories of illness course are described for a cohort of individuals followed for 25 years since first admission for psychosis.

METHODS

Participants are from the Suffolk County Mental Health Project, an epidemiological study of first-admission psychosis. Data for the present study was collected from six follow-ups, with 311 individuals assessed at the 25-year follow-up. Common patterns of remission and recovery were assessed in the baseline cohort of 591 individuals and the subsample from the 25-year follow up.

RESULTS

In the baseline cohort and the 25-year subsample, the most common trajectory for individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders was no remission and no recovery. Among individuals with other psychotic disorders, in both the baseline and 25-year cohorts, the modal pattern was one of intermittent remission and recovery. Individuals with other psychotic disorders were more likely to experience stable remission (15.1%) and stable recovery (21.1%), outcomes that were rare among individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (0% and 0.6%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The modal longitudinal pattern for individuals with other psychoses is one of multiple transitions into and out of symptomatic and functional recovery. Engagement in a long-term health care plan may help individuals detect and respond to these changes. Sustained remission and recovery are rare among people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Efforts should be directed toward developing more effective treatments for this population.

Factors associated with recovery during schizophrenia and related disorders: A review of meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The spectrum of schizophrenia disorders (SSD) is a severe mental disorder. It is one of the main medical causes of disability that generates high health and social costs.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the factors associated with clinical recovery (CR) (symptomatic remission-SR and functional recovery-FR) and personal recovery (PR) in people diagnosed with SSD.

METHODS

14 meta-analyses focused on recovery were reviewed following the PRISMA model statements. 95 % of CI was established.

RESULTS

Shorter Duration of Untreated Psychosis (Zr = 0.24, [0.17, 0.30]) and total Duration of Untreated Illness (Zr = 0.34, [0.20, 0.48]) were related to greater SR and general functioning, respectively. Resilience was the variable with the greatest effect on FR (Zr = 0.67, [0.63, 0.71]). Premorbid adjustment (Zr = 0.34, [0.18, 0.49]) and physical intervention (Zr = 0.71, [0.55, 0.86]) had the greatest effect on occupational and social functioning, respectively. Less severe affective symptoms were related to greater PR (Zr = 0.46, [0.42, 0.50]). There are differences between affective SR and the other types of SR (Zr(SR-A - SR-) = 0.13, Qb = 6.51, p = 0.011), (Zr(SR-A - SR+) = 0.20, Qb = 8.52, p = 0.004), (Zr(SR-A - SR) = 0.18, Qb = 19.29, p = 0.0001). In all, resilience was associated with greater recovery (Zr = 0.67, [0.53, 0.80]), with the global effect being greater on PR than on CR (Zr(PR-CR) = 0.07, Qb = 3.45, p = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Resilience was the variable most strongly associated with recovery. Symptomatic or functional improvement obtained less statistical weight.

A naturalistic cohort study of first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorder: A description of the early phase of illness in the PSYSCAN cohort

BACKGROUND

We examined the course of illness over a 12-month period in a large, international multi-center cohort of people with a first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorder (FES) in a naturalistic, prospective study (PSYSCAN).

METHOD

Patients with a first episode of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder (depressive type) or schizophreniform disorder were recruited at 16 institutions in Europe, Israel and Australia. Participants (N = 304) received clinical treatment as usual throughout the study.

RESULTS

The mean age of the cohort was 24.3 years (SD = 5.6), and 67 % were male. At baseline, participants presented with a range of intensities of psychotic symptoms, 80 % were taking antipsychotic medication, 68 % were receiving psychological treatment, with 46.5 % in symptomatic remission. The mean duration of untreated psychosis was 6.2 months (SD = 17.0). After one year, 67 % were in symptomatic remission and 61 % were in functional remission, but 31 % had been readmitted to hospital at some time after baseline. In the cohort as a whole, depressive symptoms remained stable over the follow-up period. In patients with a current depressive episode at baseline, depressive symptoms slightly improved. Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis were the most commonly used substances, with daily users of cannabis ranging between 9 and 11 % throughout the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides valuable insight into the early course of a broad range of clinical and functional aspects of illness in FES patients in routine clinical practice.

Comparing the Perspectives of Generative AI, Mental Health Experts, and the General Public on Schizophrenia Recovery: Case Vignette Study

Background

The current paradigm in mental health care focuses on clinical recovery and symptom remission. This model's efficacy is influenced by therapist trust in patient recovery potential and the depth of the therapeutic relationship. Schizophrenia is a chronic illness with severe symptoms where the possibility of recovery is a matter of debate. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes integrated into the health care field, it is important to examine its ability to assess recovery potential in major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the ability of large language models (LLMs) in comparison to mental health professionals to assess the prognosis of schizophrenia with and without professional treatment and the long-term positive and negative outcomes.

Methods

Vignettes were inputted into LLMs interfaces and assessed 10 times by 4 AI platforms: ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4, Google Bard, and Claude. A total of 80 evaluations were collected and benchmarked against existing norms to analyze what mental health professionals (general practitioners, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and mental health nurses) and the general public think about schizophrenia prognosis with and without professional treatment and the positive and negative long-term outcomes of schizophrenia interventions.

Results

For the prognosis of schizophrenia with professional treatment, ChatGPT-3.5 was notably pessimistic, whereas ChatGPT-4, Claude, and Bard aligned with professional views but differed from the general public. All LLMs believed untreated schizophrenia would remain static or worsen without professional treatment. For long-term outcomes, ChatGPT-4 and Claude predicted more negative outcomes than Bard and ChatGPT-3.5. For positive outcomes, ChatGPT-3.5 and Claude were more pessimistic than Bard and ChatGPT-4.

Conclusions

The finding that 3 out of the 4 LLMs aligned closely with the predictions of mental health professionals when considering the "with treatment" condition is a demonstration of the potential of this technology in providing professional clinical prognosis. The pessimistic assessment of ChatGPT-3.5 is a disturbing finding since it may reduce the motivation of patients to start or persist with treatment for schizophrenia. Overall, although LLMs hold promise in augmenting health care, their application necessitates rigorous validation and a harmonious blend with human expertise.

Shaping tomorrow's support: baseline clinical characteristics predict later social functioning and quality of life in schizophrenia spectrum disorder

PURPOSE

We aimed to explore the multidimensional nature of social inclusion (mSI) among patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD), and to identify the predictors of 3-year mSI and the mSI prediction using traditional and data-driven approaches.

METHODS

We used the baseline and 3-year follow-up data of 1119 patients from the Genetic Risk and Outcome in Psychosis (GROUP) cohort in the Netherlands. The outcome mSI was defined as clusters derived from combined analyses of thirteen subscales from the Social Functioning Scale and the brief version of World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaires through K-means clustering. Prediction models were built through multinomial logistic regression (ModelMLR) and random forest (ModelRF), internally validated via bootstrapping and compared by accuracy and the discriminability of mSI subgroups.

RESULTS

We identified five mSI subgroups: "very low (social functioning)/very low (quality of life)" (8.58%), "low/low" (12.87%), "high/low" (49.24%), "medium/high" (18.05%), and "high/high" (11.26%). The mSI was robustly predicted by a genetic predisposition for SSD, premorbid adjustment, positive, negative, and depressive symptoms, number of met needs, and baseline satisfaction with the environment and social life. The ModelRF (61.61% [54.90%, 68.01%]; P =0.013) was cautiously considered outperform the ModelMLR (59.16% [55.75%, 62.58%]; P =0.994).

CONCLUSION

We introduced and distinguished meaningful subgroups of mSI, which were modestly predictable from baseline clinical characteristics. A possibility for early prediction of mSI at the clinical stage may unlock the potential for faster and more impactful social support that is specifically tailored to the unique characteristics of the mSI subgroup to which a given patient belongs.

Family Fellowship Society for Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services (1993-2019): A Self-help Movement

Family Fellowship Society for Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services is an initiative of families of persons with mental illness and with psychiatric disabilities. It has been advocating self-help movement on the part of the families who have been on the lookout for alternative care services. This venture has been technically supported by the mental health professionals at National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore. It is a collaborative effort of families and professionals to address the needs that have been felt by the consumers and the professionals. It is the first of its kind in India. Over a period of 26 years, 150 + families have availed the alternative care for psychosocial rehabilitation services for their wards. In this context, an attempt was made to enlighten the psychosocial rehabilitation services at family fellowship society.

Assessing the clinical and cost-effectiveness of inpatient mental health rehabilitation services provided by the NHS and independent sector (ACER): protocol

BACKGROUND

Mental health rehabilitation services provide specialist treatment to people with particularly severe and complex problems. In 2018, the Care Quality Commission reported that over half the 4,400 mental health inpatient rehabilitation beds in England were provided by the independent sector. They raised concerns that the length of stay and cost of independent sector care was double that of the NHS and that their services tended to be provided much further from people's homes. However, there has been no research comparing the two sectors and we therefore do not know if these concerns are justified. The ACER Study (Assessing the Clinical and cost-Effectiveness of inpatient mental health Rehabilitation services provided by the NHS and independent sector) is a national programme of research in England, funded from 2021 to 2026, that aims to investigate differences in inpatient mental health rehabilitation provided by the NHS and independent sector in terms of: patient characteristics; service quality; patient, carer and staff experiences; clinical and cost effectiveness.

METHODS

ACER comprises a:1) detailed survey of NHS and independent sector inpatient mental health rehabilitation services across England; 2) qualitative investigation of patient, family, staff and commissioners' experiences of the two sectors; 3) cohort study comparing clinical outcomes in the two sectors over 18 months; 4) comprehensive national comparison of inpatient service use in the two sectors, using instrumental variable analysis of routinely collected healthcare data over 18 months; 5) health economic evaluation of the relative cost-effectiveness of the two sectors. In Components 3 and 4, our primary outcome is 'successful rehabilitation' defined as a) being discharged from the inpatient rehabilitation unit without readmission and b) inpatient service use over the 18 months.

DISCUSSION

The ACER study will deliver the first empirical comparison of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of NHS and independent sector inpatient mental health rehabilitation services.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN17381762 retrospectively registered.

Disruptions of Hierarchical Cortical Organization in Early Psychosis and Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

The cerebral cortex is organized hierarchically along an axis that spans unimodal sensorimotor to transmodal association areas. This hierarchy is often characterized using low-dimensional embeddings, termed gradients, of interregional functional coupling estimates measured with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Such analyses may offer insights into the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, which has been frequently linked to dysfunctional interactions between association and sensorimotor areas.

METHODS

To examine disruptions of hierarchical cortical function across distinct stages of psychosis, we applied diffusion map embedding to 2 independent functional magnetic resonance imaging datasets: one comprising 114 patients with early psychosis and 48 control participants, and the other comprising 50 patients with established schizophrenia and 121 control participants. Then, we analyzed the primary sensorimotor-to-association and secondary visual-to-sensorimotor gradients of each participant in both datasets.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in regional gradient scores between patients with early psychosis and control participants. Patients with established schizophrenia showed significant differences in the secondary, but not primary, gradient compared with control participants. Gradient differences in schizophrenia were characterized by lower within-network dispersion in the dorsal attention (false discovery rate [FDR]-corrected p [pFDR] < .001), visual (pFDR = .003), frontoparietal (pFDR = .018), and limbic (pFDR = .020) networks and lower between-network dispersion between the visual network and other networks (pFDR < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that differences in cortical hierarchical function occur along the secondary visual-to-sensorimotor axis rather than the primary sensorimotor-to-association axis as previously thought. The absence of differences in early psychosis suggests that visual-sensorimotor abnormalities may emerge as the illness progresses.

The Gut-Organ Axis within the Human Body: Gut Dysbiosis and the Role of Prebiotics

The human gut microbiota (GM) is a complex microbial ecosystem that colonises the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and is comprised of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. The GM has a symbiotic relationship with its host that is fundamental for body homeostasis. The GM is not limited to the scope of the GIT, but there are bidirectional interactions between the GM and other organs, highlighting the concept of the "gut-organ axis". Any deviation from the normal composition of the GM, termed "microbial dysbiosis", is implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Only a few studies have demonstrated a relationship between GM modifications and disease phenotypes, and it is still unknown whether an altered GM contributes to a disease or simply reflects its status. Restoration of the GM with probiotics and prebiotics has been postulated, but evidence for the effects of prebiotics is limited. Prebiotics are substrates that are "selectively utilized by host microorganisms, conferring a health benefit". This study highlights the bidirectional relationship between the gut and vital human organs and demonstrates the relationship between GM dysbiosis and the emergence of certain representative diseases. Finally, this article focuses on the potential of prebiotics as a target therapy to manipulate the GM and presents the gaps in the literature and research.

Service users' perceptions of recovery from recent-onset psychosis and their long journey to and through psychiatric treatment

A growing body of evidence highlights that individuals' understanding of mental illness and recovery influences their mental health care preferences. Journeys to psychiatric care settings vary across regions with different socio-economic and developmental characteristics. However, these journeys in low-income African countries have not been well explored. This descriptive qualitative study aimed to describe service users' journeys to and through psychiatric treatment and explore their conceptualizations of recovery from recent-onset psychosis. Nineteen adults with recent-onset psychosis were recruited from three hospitals in Ethiopia for an individual semi-structured interview. Data from in-depth face-to-face interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed. Participants' conceptualizations of recovery are summarized into four themes; "domination over the disturbance of psychosis", "complete medical treatment course and stay normal", "stay active in life with optimal functioning", and "reconcile with the new reality and rebuild hope and life". These perceptions of recovery were reflected in their accounts of the long and hurdled journey to and through conventional psychiatric care settings. Participants' perceptions of psychotic illness, treatment, and recovery seemed to result in delayed or limited care in conventional treatment settings. Misunderstandings about only requiring a limited period/course of treatment for a full and permanent recovery should be addressed. Clinicians should work alongside traditional beliefs about psychosis to maximize engagement and promote recovery. Integrating conventional psychiatric treatment with spiritual/traditional healing services may make an important contribution to early treatment initiation and improving engagement.

VR-SOAP, a modular virtual reality treatment for improving social activities and participation of young people with psychosis: a study protocol for a single-blind multi-centre randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Young people with a psychotic disorder have the same social goals as their healthy peers, but their social networks are smaller, they participate less often in leisure activities and are less successful in work and education. Causes of these problems are multifaceted, but culminate in difficulties with interacting in daily life social situations. Current treatments have only moderate effects on social functioning and often target one specific domain. Virtual reality (VR) has the potential to improve the treatment of social interaction difficulties. We developed a modular VR treatment for social functioning and participation (VR-SOAP). In this study, the effect of this intervention will be investigated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

METHODS

A total of 116 participants (age 18-40) with a DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorder and problems with social functioning will be recruited from mental healthcare institutes in the Netherlands. Participants will be randomized to the experimental condition (VR-SOAP) or active VR control condition (VRelax). VR-SOAP consists of 14 sessions and 5 modules addressing causes of impaired social functioning: four optional modules (1-4) and one fixed module (5). Vrelax consists of 14 sessions that entail psychoeducation, stress management, relaxation techniques, and the exploration of relaxing environments in VR. Primary outcomes are quantity and quality of social contacts, leisure activities and social participation, measured with the experience sampling method (ESM). Secondary outcomes are psychiatric symptoms, social behaviour, social cognition, self-esteem, self-stigma and paranoid thoughts. Treatment effects will be compared at pre-treatment (baseline), post-treatment and at 6-month follow-up.

DISCUSSION

If VR-SOAP proves to be effective, it provides therapists with a much-needed tool to improve social functioning of young adults with a psychotic disorder. Additionally, since the treatment consists of multiple modules targeting different transdiagnostic factors, this trial might provide input for new treatments to improve social functioning in a range of symptoms and disorders, e.g. mood, autism spectrum and anxiety disorders.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

On the 10th of November 2021, this trial was registered prospectively in the Dutch Trial Register as NL9784 .

Clinical Recovery Among Individuals With a First-Episode Schizophrenia an Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

Through decades the clinical recovery outcomes among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia have been highly inconsistent ranging from 13.5% to 57%. The primary objective of this updated examination was to report the pooled estimate and explore various moderators to improve the understanding of the course of schizophrenia.

STUDY DESIGN

A systematic literature search was set up on PubMed, PsycInfo, and EMBASE until January 13th, 2022. Both observational and interventional studies among cohorts of individuals with the first episode of schizophrenia reporting on clinical recovery were included. The PRISMA 2020 statement was used and data was extracted for a random-effects meta-analysis, meta-regression, and sensitivity analyses. Risk of bias was assessed using The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

STUDY RESULTS

A 20.8% (95% CI = 17.3 to 24.8) recovery rate was found among 26 unique study samples (mean trial duration, 9.5 years) including 3877 individuals (mean age, 26.4 years). In meta-regression none of the following study characteristics could uncover the diverse reported recovery rates; age at inclusion (P = .84), year of inclusion (P = .93), follow-up time (P = .99), drop-out rate (P = .07), or strictness of the recovery criteria (P = .35). Furthermore, no differences in recovery were found between early intervention services (EIS; 19.5%; 95% CI = 15.0 to 24.8) compared to other interventions (21%; 95% CI = 16.9 to 25.8), P = .65.

CONCLUSIONS

A clinical recovery rate of approximately 21% was found with minimum impact from various moderators. The rate was not different comparing EIS with other interventions implying that new initiatives are needed to improve the rate of recovery.

Auditory event-related potentials, neurocognition, and global functioning in drug naïve first-episode schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND

Deficits in event-related potential (ERP) including duration mismatch negativity (MMN) and P3a have been demonstrated widely in chronic schizophrenia (SZ) but inconsistent findings were reported in first-episode patients. Psychotropic medications and diagnosis might contribute to different findings on MMN/P3a ERP in first-episode patients. The present study examined MMN and P3a in first episode drug naïve SZ and bipolar disorder (BPD) patients and explored the relationships among ERPs, neurocognition and global functioning.

METHODS

Twenty SZ, 24 BPD and 49 age and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Data of clinical symptoms [Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS), Young Manic Rating Scale (YMRS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD)], neurocognition [Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), Cattell's Culture Fair Intelligence Test (CCFT), Delay Matching to Sample (DMS), Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVP)], and functioning [Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST)] were collected. P3a and MMN were elicited using a passive auditory oddball paradigm.

RESULTS

Significant MMN and P3a deficits and impaired neurocognition were found in both SZ and BPD patients. In SZ, MMN was significantly correlated with FAST (r = 0.48) and CCFT (r = -0.31). In BPD, MMN was significantly correlated with DMS (r = -0.54). For P3a, RVP and FAST scores were significant predictors in SZ, whereas RVP, WAIS and FAST were significant predictors in BPD.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study found deficits in MMN, P3a, neurocognition in drug naïve SZ and BPD patients. These deficits appeared to link with levels of higher-order cognition and functioning.

Predicting treatment resistance from first-episode psychosis using routinely collected clinical information

Around a quarter of people who experience a first episode of psychosis (FEP) will develop treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), but there are currently no established clinically useful methods to predict this from baseline. We aimed to explore the predictive potential for clozapine use as a proxy for TRS of routinely collected, objective biomedical predictors at FEP onset, and to externally validate the model in a separate clinical sample of people with FEP. We developed and externally validated a forced-entry logistic regression risk prediction Model fOr cloZApine tReaTment, or MOZART, to predict up to 8-year risk of clozapine use from FEP using routinely recorded information including age, sex, ethnicity, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase levels, and lymphocyte counts. We also produced a least-absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) based model, additionally including neutrophil count, smoking status, body mass index, and random glucose levels. The models were developed using data from two UK psychosis early intervention services (EIS) and externally validated in another UK EIS. Model performance was assessed via discrimination and calibration. We developed the models in 785 patients, and validated externally in 1,110 patients. Both models predicted clozapine use well at internal validation (MOZART: C 0.70; 95%CI 0.63,0.76; LASSO: 0.69; 95%CI 0.63,0.77). At external validation, discrimination performance reduced (MOZART: 0.63; 0.58,0.69; LASSO: 0.64; 0.58,0.69) but recovered after re-estimation of the lymphocyte predictor (C: 0.67; 0.62,0.73). Calibration plots showed good agreement between observed and predicted risk in the forced-entry model. We also present a decision-curve analysis and an online data visualisation tool. The use of routinely collected clinical information including blood-based biomarkers taken at FEP onset can help to predict the individual risk of clozapine use, and should be considered equally alongside other potentially useful information such as symptom scores in large-scale efforts to predict psychiatric outcomes.

Developing and testing unconditional cash transfer strategies among young adults with first-episode psychosis in South Africa: a study protocol for a pilot randomised control trial (PRS-FEP trial)

INTRODUCTION

Access to mental health services is a challenge, especially for young people who are over-represented in the unemployment and poverty index in South Africa. Therefore, continuing care is a problem after hospital discharge for young people with first-episode psychosis (FEP) due to a lack of clinical engagement and follow-up, for which they need support, including financial, to improve their outcomes. This pilot randomised control trial (RCT) aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of financial support, in the form of an unconditional cash transfer (UCT), among young patients with FEP to prevent relapse.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This study will use a 1:1 ratio two-arm open-label pilot RCT of 60 young participants (18-29 years) with FEP in remission, who will be recruited from specialised psychiatric facilities in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. This study will implement an UCT and assess its feasibility, acceptability and preliminary clinical outcomes (ie, medication adherence, relapse, quality of life, personal and social function). The follow-up time will be 3 months, the outcomes being measured at baseline, months 1 and 3. Descriptive and conventional content analysis will be done for quantitative and qualitative data, respectively.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study obtained provisional approval from the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee at the University of KwaZulu-Natal(#BREC/00004117/2022). Also is registered on the South African National clinical trial registry (#DOH-27-092022-5894) and approved by the KwaZulu-Natal department of health (#NHRD Ref: KZ_2002209_033). The results from this investigation will be actively disseminated through peer-reviewed journal publications, conference presentations and stakeholder engagement.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

DOH-27-092022-5894.

The prognosis of schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis with meta-regression of 20-year follow-up studies

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to examine the general outcome of schizophrenia after 20 years or more.

METHODS

Using the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis with meta-regression on long-term follow-up studies of schizophrenia up until April 21, 2021. We included prospective studies with at least 20 years of follow-up on patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, and the studies had to include face-to-face clinical evaluation. We examined outcome in three nested groups: 'recovery', 'good or better' (including also 'recovery'), and 'moderate or better' (including also 'recovery' and 'good or better'). We used random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression to examine mean estimates and possible moderators.

RESULTS

We identified 1089 records, which were screened by two independent researchers. 14 prospective studies (1991 patients) published between 1978 and 2020 were found eligible. The studies used a range of different scales and definitions for outcome, and some used the same definitions for different outcomes. To compare outcome across studies, we designed and applied a unified template for outcome definitions and cutoffs, based on earlier studies' recommendations. Our meta-analysis found that 24.2 % had 'recovered' (n = 246, CI: 20.3-28.0 %), 35.5 % had a 'good or better' outcome (n = 766, CI: 26.0-45.0%), and 59.7% had 'moderate or better' outcome (n = 1139, CI: 49.3-70.1 %).

CONCLUSIONS

The results contribute to debunk the myth that schizophrenia inevitably has a deteriorating course. Recovery is certainly possible. Schizophrenia remains, however, a severe and complex mental disorder, exhibiting a limited change in prognosis despite >100 years of research and efforts to improve treatment.

Neurocognitive correlates of the varied domains of outcomes at 20 year follow-up of first-episode psychosis

Little is known about long-term outcomes of the first episode of psychosis (FEP) other than in the symptomatic domain. We hypothesised that cognitive impairment is associated with poorer multi-domain outcomes at a long-term follow-up of FEP patients. We followed-up 172 FEP patients for a mean of 20.3 years. Ten outcome dimensions were assessed (symptomatic, functional and personal recovery, social disadvantage, physical health, suicide attempts, number of episodes, current drug use, chlorpromazine equivalent doses (CPZ), and schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder final diagnosis). Cognition was assessed at follow-up. Processing speed and verbal memory deficits showed significant associations with poor outcomes on symptomatic, social functioning, social disadvantage, higher number of episodes, and higher CPZ. Significant associations were found between visual memory impairments were significantly associated with low symptomatic and functional recovery, between attentional deficits and a final diagnosis of schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder, and between social cognition deficits and poor personal recovery.Lower cognitive global scores were significantly associated with all outcome dimensions except for drug abuse and physical status. Using multiple outcome dimensions allowed for the inclusion of the patients' perspective and other commonly neglected outcome measures. Taken together, cognitive impairment in FEP patients is strongly related to poor performance on several outcome dimensions beyond symptomatic remission.

Semantic fluency reveals reduced functional connectivity between subcategorical co-hyponyms in recent-onset inpatients with first-episode psychosis

Data on clustering and switching during semantic fluency (SF) in patients with first-episode psychosis (PwFEP) are scant. We aimed to investigate (1) clustering and switching on SF in PwFEP using more detailed clustering analyses and (2) the possibility of disproportionate clustering deficits across different SF tasks in PwFEP and healthy subjects (HS), with the latter being suggested by the current literature on patients with schizophrenia. We recruited 22 Croatian-speaking PwFEP with schizophrenia features or symptoms and 22 HS matched in age, sex distribution, and handedness. All patients were medicated and had a mean illness duration of 1 month. The categories animals, trees, vegetables, fruits, and musical instruments were administered for SF. PwFEP produced significantly fewer correct words in the aggregate score, as well as across all categories. The switching rate was significantly higher in PwFEP, but no post hoc comparisons were significant. PwFEP also produced significantly smaller clusters, yet the post hoc comparisons for the tree and fruit task were not significant. A higher switching rate and smaller clusters indicate less efficient functional connectivity within subcategories of the given categories, but not necessarily between the subcategories. Although both less likely to produce a cluster once a switch has been uttered and less likely to produce clusters larger than two words compared to HS, the latter deficit was more pronounced. Our results further suggest that PwFEP might show normal clustering performance on some SF tasks. We discuss the results in the context of the hypothesis of semantic hyperactivation in psychoses.

Cerebral, Psychosocial, Family Functioning and Disability of Persons with Schizophrenia

The human brain is the most cognitively capable of mammalian brains, endowed as it is with an overdeveloped cerebral cortex that, in parallel, renders it vulnerable to mental disorders. Schizophrenia is the expression of the dysregulation of the neuronal activity of cortical and subcortical regions due to modifications in the levels of the various neurotransmitters, especially of dopamine, with a reciprocal, intimate relationship among genes with environmental and psychosocial factors. If the dopaminergic system increases the function prefrontal cortex will be reduced: this is the main reason of social, occupational and familiar disruption. The present article describes the function of the brain in schizophrenia and its relation with anatomical, physiological, and genetic changes, in addition to identifying, psychosocial and family factors that can be determinant in the functionality of the patient. A review of national and international bibliography was conducted bearing in mind the following variables: functioning at the cerebral level; psychosocial functioning, familial functioning, disability, and functionality in persons with schizophrenia. Due to the variety of the issues included in this review, it can be concluded that schizophrenia is the product of a complex array of symptoms, deficits and disabilities. It was identified that there is a reciprocal confluence of diverse genetic, psychosocial, familial, environmental, educative, and social factors which affect the functionality of persons with this disorder. The latter makes it necessary to study the patient taking into consideration all of these components in an integral manner.

Functionality During the First Five Years After the Diagnosis of Schizophrenia. A Cohort Study in a Colombian Population

OBJECTIVE

There is a lack of studies on the natural history of the initial stages of schizophrenia in Colombia. This study aims to assess functionality in the first five years after the diagnosis of schizophrenia.

METHODS

Naturalistic longitudinal study of 50 patients with early schizophrenia evaluated between 2011 and 2014. Data about demographic background, symptoms, introspection, treatment and adverse reactions were collected in all patients every 3 months for at least 3-5 years. Functionality was measured with the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scales.

RESULTS

Patients were followed up for a mean of 174±62.5 weeks and showed moderate difficulties in overall functioning. This functioning was modified by polypharmacy, degree of introspection, changes in antipsychotic regimens, and the number of episodes, relapses and hospitalisations.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that functional outcomes seem to be related to the use of polypharmacy, degree of insight, changes in antipsychotic regimens, and number of episodes, relapses and hospitalisations during the first years of schizophrenia.

A protocol for the first episode psychosis outcome study (FEPOS): ≥15 year follow-up after treatment at the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre, Melbourne, Australia

BACKGROUND

Specialist early intervention (SEI) service models are designed to treat symptoms, promote social and vocational recovery, prevent relapse, and resource and up-skill patients and their families. The benefits of SEI over the first few years have been demonstrated. While early recovery can be expected to translate to better long-term outcomes by analogy with other illnesses, there is limited evidence to support this from follow-up studies. The current study involves the long-term follow-up of a sub-set of first episode psychosis (FEP) patients, with a range of diagnoses, who were first treated at Orygen's Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) between 1998 and 2000. The aim of this paper is to present the methodology for this follow-up study.

METHODS

Between January 1998 and December 2000, 786 patients between the ages of 15-29 years were treated at EPPIC, located in Melbourne, Australia. Our cohort consists of 661 people (82 were transferred/discharged and 43 were not diagnosed with a psychotic disorder at time of discharge). The 18-month treatment characteristics of this cohort have been extensively examined in the First Episode Psychosis Outcome Study (FEPOS). The ≥15 year outcomes of this cohort are being examined in this study, known as FEPOS15.

RESULTS

Participant follow-up is ongoing. In order to extend and assess broader outcomes of the cohort, data linkage with health-related databases will be conducted.

CONCLUSION

This study will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the long-term trajectory of psychotic disorders after treatment for FEP in a SEI service.

Social integration of people with non-psychotic mental illness over the last 2 decades: the widening gap in the adult population in Belgium

PURPOSE

Social integration is poor among people with mental illness (MI). In recent decades, many countries have developed policies to address this issue. It remains unclear, however, whether their social integration has improved over time. This study aimed to assess the evolution of the social integration of adults with moderate and severe non-psychotic MI compared to the general population without MI between 1997 and 2018 in Belgium.

METHODS

Data on the general adult population were retrieved from the Belgian Health Interview Survey in six cross-sectional waves from 1997 to 2018. Three degrees of non-psychotic MI severity were compared using the 12-items General Health Questionnaire: no MI, moderate MI, and severe MI (score < 4, 4-7, and > 7). Social integration was measured using indicators relating to employment, income, social contacts, and partnership.

RESULTS

Since 1997, the probability of being unemployed, having limited social contacts, and living on less than 60% of the median national income has been increasing among people with severe non-psychotic MI. Between 1997 and 2018, social integration increased among the general population without MI and among people with moderate non-psychotic MI, but decreased among people with severe non-psychotic MI.

CONCLUSION

The gap between the social integration of people with severe non-psychotic MI and people with moderate or no MI has widened over time, despite major reforms of mental health care and policies. Policymakers and clinical practitioners should pay more attention to supporting the social integration of people with more severe MI, particularly in relation to employability and social support.

Long-Term Outcomes of First-Admission Psychosis: A Naturalistic 21-Year Follow-Up Study of Symptomatic, Functional and Personal Recovery and Their Baseline Predictors

This study was aimed at characterizing long-term outcomes of first-admission psychosis and examining their baseline predictors. Participants were assessed at baseline for 38 candidate predictors and re-assessed after a median follow-up of 21 years for symptomatic, functional, and personal recovery. Associations between the predictors and the outcomes were examined using univariate and multivariate Cox regression models. At baseline, 623 subjects were assessed for eligibility, 510 met the inclusion/exclusion criteria and 243 were successfully followed-up (57.3% of the survivors). At follow-up, the percentages of subjects achieving symptomatic, functional, and personal recovery were 51.9%, 52.7%, and 51.9%, respectively; 74.2% met at least one recovery criterion and 32.5% met all three recovery criteria. Univariate analysis showed that outcomes were predicted by a broad range of variables, including sociodemographics, familial risk, early risk factors, premorbid functioning, triggering factors, illness-onset features, neurological abnormalities, deficit symptoms and early response to treatment. Many of the univariate predictors became nonsignificant when entered into a hierarchical multivariate model, indicating a substantial degree of interdependence. Each single outcome component was independently predicted by parental socioeconomic status, family history of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, early developmental delay, childhood adversity, and mild drug use. Spontaneous dyskinesia/parkinsonism, neurological soft signs and completion of high school remained specific predictors of symptomatic, functional, and personal outcomes, respectively. Predictors explained between 27.5% and 34.3% of the variance in the outcomes. In conclusion, our results indicate a strong potential for background and first-episode characteristics in predicting long-term outcomes of psychotic disorders, which may inform future intervention research.

The Time is Ripe for a Consensus Definition of Clinical Recovery in First-episode Psychosis: Suggestions Based on a 10-Year Follow-up Study

OBJECTIVES

A consensus definition of clinical recovery in first-episode psychosis (FEP) is required to improve knowledge about recovery rates in this population. To propose criteria for a future consensus definition, this study aims to investigate rates of clinical recovery when using a standard definition (full psychotic symptom remission and adequate functioning for minimum one year) across both affective and nonaffective FEP groups (bipolar spectrum and schizophrenia spectrum disorders). Second, we aim to explore changes in rates when altering the standard definition criteria. Third, to examine the extent to which healthy controls meet the functioning criteria.

STUDY DESIGN

In total, 142 FEP participants and 117 healthy controls preselected with strict criteria, were re-assessed with structured clinical interviews at 10-year follow-up.

STUDY RESULTS

A total of 31.7% were in clinical recovery according to the standard definition, with significantly higher recovery rates in bipolar (50.0%) than in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (22.9%). Both groups' recovery rates decreased equally when extending duration and adding affective symptom remission criteria and increased with looser functioning criteria. In healthy controls, 18.8% did not meet the standard criteria for adequate functioning, decreasing to 4.3% with looser criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that clinical recovery is common in FEP, although more in bipolar than in schizophrenia spectrum disorders, also when altering the recovery criteria. We call for a future consensus definition of clinical recovery for FEP, and suggest it should include affective symptom remission and more reasonable criteria for functioning that are more in line with the general population.

Community-based social interventions for people with severe mental illness: a systematic review and narrative synthesis of recent evidence

People living with severe mental illness (SMI) are one of the most marginalized groups in society. Interventions which aim to improve their social and economic participation are of crucial importance to clinicians, policy-makers and people with SMI themselves. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on social interventions for people with SMI published since 2016 and collated our findings through narrative synthesis. We found an encouragingly large amount of research in this field, and 72 papers met our inclusion criteria. Over half reported on the effectiveness of interventions delivered at the service level (supported accommodation, education or employment), while the remainder targeted individuals directly (community participation, family interventions, peer-led/supported interventions, social skills training). We identified good evidence for the Housing First model of supported accommodation, for the Individual Placement and Support model of supported employment, and for family psychoeducation, with the caveat that a range of models are nonetheless required to meet the varied housing, employment and family-related needs of individuals. Our findings also highlighted the importance of contextual factors and the need to make local adaptations when "importing" interventions from elsewhere. We found that augmentation strategies to enhance the effectiveness of social interventions (particularly supported employment and social skills training) by addressing cognitive impairments did not lead to transferable "real life" skills despite improvements in cognitive function. We also identified an emerging evidence base for peer-led/supported interventions, recovery colleges and other interventions to support community participation. We concluded that social interventions have considerable benefits but are arguably the most complex in the mental health field, and require multi-level stakeholder commitment and investment for successful implementation.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, characterised by psychotic symptoms and in many cases social and occupational decline, remains an aetiological and therapeutic challenge. Contrary to popular belief, the disorder is modestly more common in men than in women. Nor is the outcome uniformly poor. A division of symptoms into positive, negative, and disorganisation syndromes is supported by factor analysis. Catatonic symptoms are not specific to schizophrenia and so-called first rank symptoms are no longer considered diagnostically important. Cognitive impairment is now recognised as a further clinical feature of the disorder. Lateral ventricular enlargement and brain volume reductions of around 2% are established findings. Brain functional changes occur in different subregions of the frontal cortex and might ultimately be understandable in terms of disturbed interaction among large-scale brain networks. Neurochemical disturbance, involving dopamine function and glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor function, is supported by indirect and direct evidence. The genetic contribution to schizophrenia is now recognised to be largely polygenic. Birth and early life factors also have an important aetiological role. The mainstay of treatment remains dopamine receptor-blocking drugs; a psychological intervention, cognitive behavioural therapy, has relatively small effects on symptoms. The idea that schizophrenia is better regarded as the extreme end of a continuum of psychotic symptoms is currently influential. Other areas of debate include cannabis and childhood adversity as causative factors, whether there is progressive brain change after onset, and the long-term success of early intervention initiatives.

Clinical and personal recovery for people with schizophrenia in China: prevalence and predictors

BACKGROUND

Recovery from schizophrenia is a multidimensional construct that includes two categories: clinical recovery (symptomatic and functional remission) and personal recovery.

AIMS

To investigate the overlap between clinical and personal recovery and identify correlates of each.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 356 people living with schizophrenia and randomly selected from 12 communities in China. Clinical recovery was assessed using both the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). Personal recovery was assessed using the 8-item Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS). Disability and quality of life were assessed using the WHODAS 2.0 and WHOQOL-BREF-2, respectively.

RESULTS

Our results showed a recovery proportion of 36.52% for clinical recovery (66.57% for symptomatic remission and 40.73% for functional remission), and 17.42% for personal recovery. Only 8.99% of individuals achieved overall recovery (i.e. they met criteria for both clinical and personal recovery), and there was only a modest correlation (r = 0.26) between these two types of recovery. Overall recovery was only correlated with the quality of life (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.03), but there were various correlates for clinical recovery and personal recovery separately.

CONCLUSIONS

Recovery from schizophrenia involves both clinical and personal recovery, but when examined in the same sample, personal recovery, and thus overall recovery, is less common, particularly among people with schizophrenia in China.

Safety and Effectiveness of Blonanserin in Chinese Patients with Schizophrenia: An Interim Analysis of a 12-Week Open-Label Prospective Multi-Center Post-marketing Surveillance

Schizophrenia is an unexplained, complex and serious mental illness. Blonanserin (BNS) is a new antipsychotic drug widely used in the treatment of schizophrenia. However, large-scale clinical studies have not been conducted in China. A multi-center, prospective, open-label, 12-week surveillance was carried out to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of BNS in patients with schizophrenia in China. Safety assessments included adverse drug reactions (ADRs), extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), akathisia, concomitant medications for EPS by the end of treatment, and the changes in body weight from baseline by the end of treatment. The effectiveness was evaluated by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). From September 2018 to May 2020, of the 1,060 patients enrolled, 1,018 were included in the full analysis set (FAS) and safety set (SS), respectively. ADRs were developed in 205 patients among the included, the incidence being 20.1%. ADRs of EPS occurred in 169 patients, the incidence being 16.6%, ADRs of akathisia occurred in 90 patients, the incidence being 8.8%; concomitant therapeutic and prophylactic agents for EPS accounts for 19.2%; 4.0% of patients had a ≥7% increase in body weight from baseline at 12 weeks after initiating treatment. Using the last-observation-carried-forward (LOCF) method, the changes in total BPRS scores were -11.2 ± 10.17 (N = 1,018), -16.8 ± 12.69 (N = 1,018) and -20.6 ± 13.99 (N = 1,018) after 2/4, 6/8, or 12 weeks, respectively. 53.5% (545/1,018) patients showed response to blonanserin treatment in week 12. The post-marketing surveillance results of BNS demonstrates safety profile and effectiveness of the drug.

Symptom remission and functional outcome in an Egyptian sample of patients with schizophrenia

Background

The ultimate treatment goal of schizophrenia is regaining patients’ pre-morbid function.

Results

Ninety-three outpatients with schizophrenia, diagnosed according to the criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—fourth edition (DSM-IV), were recruited, of whom 35 patients (37.6%) had achieved the remission severity criteria, whereas 58 patients (62.4%) failed to fulfill the criteria for remission. The functional aspects were examined by the Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF) and the Social Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ). Predictors of outcome were examined by applying binary logistic regression analysis. Patients who fulfilled those specific criteria for remission showed a favorable outcome in the assessed areas, regarding GAF and social functioning in society. Lack of judgment or insight item of PANSS showed significantly good functional outcomes.

Conclusion

The results suggest that the remission concept has important implications for the treatment of schizophrenia. Remission seems to be associated with better functional capabilities. However, this does not necessarily mean that remitted patients have “adequate” functioning, especially regarding the social skills domain.

Surface area in the insula was associated with 28-month functional outcome in first-episode psychosis

Many studies have tested the relationship between demographic, clinical, and psychobiological measurements and clinical outcomes in ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR) and first-episode psychosis (FEP). However, no study has investigated the relationship between multi-modal measurements and long-term outcomes for >2 years. Thirty-eight individuals with UHR and 29 patients with FEP were measured using one or more modalities (cognitive battery, electrophysiological response, structural magnetic resonance imaging, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy). We explored the characteristics associated with 13- and 28-month clinical outcomes. In UHR, the cortical surface area in the left orbital part of the inferior frontal gyrus was negatively associated with 13-month disorganized symptoms. In FEP, the cortical surface area in the left insula was positively associated with 28-month global social function. The left inferior frontal gyrus and insula are well-known structural brain characteristics in schizophrenia, and future studies on the pathological mechanism of structural alteration would provide a clearer understanding of the disease.

Proportion and predictors of remission and recovery in first-episode psychosis: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

To determine the proportion of patients in symptomatic remission and recovery following a first-episode of psychosis (FEP).

Methods

A multistep literature search using the Web of Science database, Cochrane Central Register of Reviews, Ovid/PsychINFO, and trial registries from database inception to November 5, 2020, was performed. Cohort studies and randomized control trials (RCT) investigating the proportion of remission and recovery following a FEP were included. Two independent researchers searched, following PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines and using a PROSPERO protocol. We performed meta-analyses regarding the proportion of remission/recovery (symptomatic plus functional outcomes). Heterogeneity was measured employing Q statistics and I² test. To identify potential predictors, meta-regression analyses were conducted, as well as qualitative reporting of studies included in a systematic review. Sensitivity analyses were performed regarding different times of follow-up and type of studies.

Results

One hundred articles (82 cohorts and 18 RCTs) were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled proportion of symptomatic remission was 54% (95%CI [30, 49–58]) over a mean follow-up period of 43.57 months (SD = 51.82) in 76 studies. After excluding RCT from the sample, the proportion of remission remained similar (55%). The pooled proportion of recovery was 32% (95%CI [27–36]) over a mean follow-up period of 71.85 months (SD = 73.54) in 40 studies. After excluding RCT from the sample, the recovery proportion remained the same. No significant effect of any sociodemographic or clinical predictor was found.

Conclusions

Half of the patients are in symptomatic remission around 4 years after the FEP, while about a third show recovery after 5.5 years.

The effect of family environment and psychiatric family history on psychosocial functioning in first-episode psychosis at baseline and after 2 years

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the contribution of family environment styles and psychiatric family history on functioning of patients presenting first-episode psychosis (FEP). Patients with FEP and healthy controls (HC) were assessed at baseline and after 2 years. The Functional Assessment Short Test (FAST) was used to assess functional outcome and the Family Environment Scale (FES) to evaluate family environment. Linear regressions evaluated the effect that family environment exerts on functioning at baseline and at 2-year follow-up, when FEP patients were diagnosed according to non-affective (NA-PSYCH) or affective psychoses (A-PSYCH). The influence of a positive parents' psychiatric history on functioning was evaluated through one-way between-groups analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) models, after controlling for family environmental styles. At baseline, FEP patients presented moderate functioning impairment, significantly worse than HC (28.65±16.17 versus 3.25±7.92; p<0.001, g = 1.91). At 2-year follow-up, the functioning of NA-PSYCH patients was significantly worse than in A-PSYCH (19.92±14.83 versus 12.46±14.86; p = 0.020, g = 0.50). No specific family environment style was associated with functioning in FEP patients and HC. On the contrary, a positive psychiatric father's history influenced functioning of FEP patients. After 2 years, worse functioning in NA-PSYCH patients was associated with lower rates of active-recreational and achievement orientated family environment and with higher rates of moral-religious emphasis and control. In A-PSYCH, worse functioning was associated with higher rates of conflict in the family. Both family environment and psychiatric history influence psychosocial functioning, with important implications for early interventions, that should involve both patients and caregivers.

The role of the gut microbiome in the development of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder involving the convergence of a complex and dynamic bidirectional interaction of genetic expression and the accumulation of prenatal and postnatal environmental risk factors. The development of the neural circuitry underlying social, cognitive and emotional domains requires precise regulation from molecular signalling pathways, especially during critical periods or "windows", when the brain is particularly sensitive to the influence of environmental input signalling. Many of the brain regions involved, and the molecular substrates sub-serving these domains are responsive to life-long microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis signalling. This intricate microbial signalling system communicates with the brain via the vagus nerve, immune system, enteric nervous system, enteroendocrine signalling and production of microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids. Preclinical data has demonstrated that MGB axis signalling influences neurotransmission, neurogenesis, myelination, dendrite formation and blood brain barrier development, and modulates cognitive function and behaviour patterns, such as, social interaction, stress management and locomotor activity. Furthermore, preliminary clinical studies suggest altered gut microbiota profiles in schizophrenia. Unravelling MGB axis signalling in the context of an evolving dimensional framework in schizophrenia may provide a more complete understanding of the neurobiological architecture of this complex condition and offers the possibility of translational interventions.

The Role of Premorbid IQ and Age of Onset as Useful Predictors of Clinical, Functional Outcomes, and Recovery of Individuals with a First Episode of Psychosis

BACKGROUND

premorbid IQ (pIQ) and age of onset are predictors of clinical severity and long-term functioning after a first episode of psychosis. However, the additive influence of these variables on clinical, functional, and recovery rates outcomes is largely unknown.

METHODS

we characterized 255 individuals who have experienced a first episode of psychosis in four a priori defined subgroups based on pIQ (low pIQ < 85; average pIQ ≥ 85) and age of onset (early onset < 18 years; adult onset ≥ 18 years). We conducted clinical and functional assessments at baseline and at two-year follow-up. We calculated symptom remission and recovery rates using the Positive and Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia Schedule (PANSS) and the Global Assessment Functioning (GAF or Children-GAF). We examined clinical and functional changes with pair-wise comparisons and two-way mixed ANOVA. We built hierarchical lineal and logistic regression models to estimate the predictive value of the independent variables over functioning or recovery rates.

RESULTS

early-onset patients had more severe positive symptoms and poorer functioning than adult-onset patients. At two-year follow-up, only early-onset with low pIQ and adult-onset with average pIQ subgroups differed consistently, with the former having more negative symptoms (d = 0.59), poorer functioning (d = 0.82), lower remission (61% vs. 81.1%), and clinical recovery (34.1% vs. 62.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

early-onset individuals with low pIQ may present persistent negative symptoms, lower functioning, and less recovery likelihood at two-year follow-up. Intensive cognitive and functional programs for these individuals merit testing to improve long-term recovery rates in this subgroup.

Schizophrenia outcomes in the 21st century: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

We report a review of outcomes in schizophrenia in the twenty-first century, replicating and extending work undertaken by the late Richard Warner in his seminal book, "Recovery from Schizophrenia: Psychiatry and Political Economy" (1985;2004).

METHOD

Warner's methods were followed as closely as possible. Only observational/naturalistic studies were included. Six scientific databases were searched from 2000 to 2020. 6,640 records were retrieved. 47 met inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Overall, complete recovery is higher in this study than in Warner's (37.75% cf 20.4%), especially for first episode psychosis (FEP) (57.1% cf 20.7%). Clinical recovery, annualized remission rate (ARR), and employment outcomes were significantly superior for first episode psychosis compared with multiple episode psychosis (MEP). ARR shows a trend toward reduction over time, from 2.2 before the financial crash of 2008 to 1.6 after (t = 1.85 df 40 p = .07). The decline is statistically significant for the MEP group (t = 2.32 df18 p = .03). There were no differences in outcome by region, sample characteristics, outcome measures used, or quality of studies. Heterogeneity of clinical outcome measures across the literature makes evidence synthesis difficult. Weak and inconsistent reporting of functional and employment outcomes mean that findings lack meaning with respect to lived experience.

CONCLUSION

Future research strategies should aim to reduce heterogeneity in clinical outcome measures and to increase the emphasis on capture and reporting of more sophisticated measures of social and functional outcome. Outcome domains should be disaggregated rather than conflated into unitary recovery constructs.

Clinical Usefulness of Amisulpride Add-on Therapy in Schizophrenia Patients without Treatment Response to Second-generation Antipsychotics

Objective

The response to antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia is still unsatisfactory. Therefore, augmentation with other antipsychotics is common in clinical situations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the improvement of psychiatric symptoms and side effects after amisulpride add-on therapy.

Methods

Forty patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder without treatment response to second-generation antipsychotics were included in this study. Psychotic symptoms were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Korean version of Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after the addition of amisulpride.

Results

Among the 29 subjects who completed the 8-week study, 34.5% were responders according to PANSS total score. At week 8, the mean positive (p < 0.001), negative (p < 0.001), general (p < 0.001), and total (p < 0.001) PANSS scores and CDSS scores (p = 0.002) showed significant improvement compared to baseline. There was no increase in extrapyramidal side effects according to Simpson Angus Scale (p = 0.379) and Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (p = 0.070) and no weight gain (p = 0.308) after the add-on treatment.

Conclusion

The addition of amisulpride for schizophrenia patients without therapeutic response to second-generation antipsychotics is considered an effective and safe treatment. This study's results suggested that augmentation of second-generation antipsychotics with amisulpride could be a useful option for patients with schizophrenia unresponsive to second-generation antipsychotics. Further studies investigating the efficacy of amisulpride add-on therapy using placebo control are necessary to confirm these results.

An Observational Cohort of First Episode Psychosis in Iran: The Azeri Recent Onset Acute Phase Psychosis Survey (ARAS Cohort) Study Protocol

Background: Most of our knowledge about the etiology, course, treatment, and outcome of schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders stems from Western countries. Data from populations living in other geographical areas and low- and middle-income countries, with different genomes (ethnicity) and exposomes (e.g., culture and social support, drugs of abuse, religion), will add to our knowledge of this complex disorder. Methods: The Azeri Acute phase/Recent onset psychosis Survey (ARAS) has been initiated to study the course of the disorder in patients with recent-onset psychosis using validated diagnostic tools and a comprehensive outcome monitoring system, aiming to reveal indicators for understanding the risk and resilience factors and for choosing the best-personalized treatment strategy. All participants will be evaluated for clinical signs and symptoms as well as risk and resilience factors and will be followed up for 1, 3, and 5 years for outcomes in several domains. A hierarchical cluster method will be applied to identify the number of clusters for each outcome. Defined models will be applied to assess the predictive value of cognition on symptomatic and functional outcomes at follow-up. Discussion: The ARAS cohort will yield significant academic- (research and education) and care-related achievements. ARAS data and experience will have value both in being a useful model for other parts of this region and in an expansion of the currently available knowledge.

The clinical characterization of the patient with primary psychosis aimed at personalization of management

The current management of patients with primary psychosis worldwide is often remarkably stereotyped. In almost all cases an antipsychotic medica-tion is prescribed, with second-generation antipsychotics usually preferred to first-generation ones. Cognitive behavioral therapy is rarely used in the vast majority of countries, although there is evidence to support its efficacy. Psychosocial interventions are often provided, especially in chronic cases, but those applied are frequently not validated by research. Evidence-based family interventions and supported employment programs are seldom implemented in ordinary practice. Although the notion that patients with primary psychosis are at increased risk for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus is widely shared, it is not frequent that appropriate measures be implemented to address this problem. The view that the management of the patient with primary psychosis should be personalized is endorsed by the vast majority of clinicians, but this personalization is lacking or inadequate in most clinical contexts. Although many mental health services would declare themselves "recovery-oriented", it is not common that a focus on empowerment, identity, meaning and resilience is ensured in ordinary practice. The present paper aims to address this situation. It describes systematically the salient domains that should be considered in the characterization of the individual patient with primary psychosis aimed at personalization of management. These include positive and negative symptom dimensions, other psychopathological components, onset and course, neurocognition and social cognition, neurodevelopmental indicators; social functioning, quality of life and unmet needs; clinical staging, antecedent and concomitant psychiatric conditions, physical comorbidities, family history, history of obstetric complications, early and recent environmental exposures, protective factors and resilience, and internalized stigma. For each domain, simple assessment instruments are identified that could be considered for use in clinical practice and included in standardized decision tools. A management of primary psychosis is encouraged which takes into account all the available treatment modalities whose efficacy is supported by research evidence, selects and modulates them in the individual patient on the basis of the clinical characterization, addresses the patient's needs in terms of employment, housing, self-care, social relationships and education, and offers a focus on identity, meaning and resilience.

Functionality During the First Five Years After the Diagnosis of Schizophrenia. A Cohort Study in a Colombian Population

OBJECTIVE

There is a lack of studies on the natural history of the initial stages of schizophrenia in Colombia. This study aims to assess functionality in the first five years after the diagnosis of schizophrenia.

METHODS

Naturalistic longitudinal study of 50 patients with early schizophrenia evaluated between 2011 and 2014. Data about demographic background, symptoms, introspection, treatment and adverse reactions were collected in all patients every 3 months for at least 3-5 years. Functionality was measured with the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scales.

RESULTS

Patients were followed up for a mean of 174±62.5 weeks and showed moderate difficulties in overall functioning. This functioning was modified by polypharmacy, degree of introspection, changes in antipsychotic regimens, and the number of episodes, relapses and hospitalisations.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that functional outcomes seem to be related to the use of polypharmacy, degree of insight, changes in antipsychotic regimens, and number of episodes, relapses and hospitalisations during the first years of schizophrenia.

Stakeholder Coalitions and Priorities Around the Policy Goals of a Nation-Wide Mental Health Care Reform

The difficulty of implementing mental healthcare reforms owes much to the influence of stakeholders. So far, the endorsement of mental health policy reforms by stakeholder coalitions has received little attention. This study describes stakeholder coalitions formed around common mental health policy goals and highlights their central goals and oppositions. Data were collected on the policy priorities of 469 stakeholders (policymakers, service managers, clinicians, and user representatives) involved in the Belgian mental healthcare reform. Four coalitions of stakeholders endorsing different mental health policy goals were identified using a hierarchical cluster analysis on stakeholders' policy priorities. A belief network analysis was performed to identify the central and peripheral policy goals within coalitions. Coalitions brought together stakeholders with similar professional functions. Disagreements were observed between service managers and policymakers around policy goals. The two coalitions composed of policymakers supported a comprehensive approach that combines the different goals and also supported the shortening of hospital stays, whereas the two coalitions composed of service managers emphasised the personal recovery of users and continuity of care. Regardless of the coalitions' differing policy priorities, strengthening community care was a central goal while patient-centred goals were peripheral. The competing policy positions of the coalitions identified may explain the slow and inconsistent pace of the Belgian mental healthcare reform. Strengthening community care may be an essential part of reaching consensus across coalitions. Finally, special care must be taken to ensure that patient-centred policy goals, such as social integration, are not set aside in favour of other goals.

Inflammatory and cardiometabolic markers at presentation with first episode psychosis and long-term clinical outcomes: A longitudinal study using electronic health records

Approximately one third of patients presenting with a first episode of psychosis need long-term support, but there is a limited understanding of the sociodemographic or biological factors that predict this outcome. We used electronic health records from a naturalistic cohort of consecutive patients referred to an early intervention in psychosis service to address this question. We extracted data on demographic (age, sex, ethnicity and marital status), immune (differential cell count measures and C-reactive protein (CRP)) and metabolic (cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, glycated haemoglobin, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI)) factors at baseline, and subsequent need for long-term secondary (specialist) psychiatric care. Of 749 patients with outcome data available, 447 (60%) had a good outcome and were discharged to primary care, while 302 (40%) required follow-up by secondary mental health services indicating a worse outcome. The need for ongoing secondary mental healthcare was associated with high triglyceride levels (adjusted odds ratio/OR = 7.32, 95% CI 2.26-28.06), a low basophil:lymphocyte ratio (adjusted OR = 0.14, 95% CI 0.02-0.58), and a high monocyte count (adjusted OR = 2.78, 95% CI 1.02-8.06) at baseline. The associations for baseline basophil (unadjusted OR = 0.27 per SD, 95% CI 0.10-0.62) and platelet counts (unadjusted OR = 2.88, 95% CI 1.29-6.63) attenuated following adjustment for BMI. Baseline CRP levels or BMI were not associated with long-term psychiatric outcomes. In conclusion, we provide evidence that triglyceride levels and several blood cell counts measured at presentation may be clinically useful markers of long-term prognosis for first episode psychosis in clinical settings. These findings will require replication.

Dissecting the functional outcomes of first episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a 10-year follow-up study in the PAFIP cohort

BACKGROUND

The aim of the current study was to examine the heterogeneity of functional outcomes in first episode psychosis (FEP) patients and related clinical, neurocognitive and sociodemographic factors using a cluster analytic approach.

METHOD

A large sample of FEP patients (N = 209) was functionally reassessed 10 years after the first contact with an early intervention service. Multiple baseline, 3-year and 10-year follow-up variables were explored.

RESULTS

The cluster analysis emphasized the existence of six independent clusters of functioning: one cluster was normal overall (42.16%), two clusters showed moderate interpersonal (9.63%) or instrumental (12.65%) deficits, two clusters showed more severe interpersonal (12.05%) or interpersonal and instrumental (13.85%) deficits and there was a significantly overall impaired cluster (9.63%). Cluster comparisons showed that several baseline and follow-up factors were differentially involved in functional outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study demonstrated that distinct clusters of functioning in FEP patients can be identified. The fact that a variety of profiles was observed contributes to a better understanding of the nature of the heterogeneity characterizing FEP patients and has clinical implications for developing individualized treatment plans.

Exploring the Interplay Between Adversity, Neurocognition, Social Cognition, and Functional Outcome in People With Psychosis: A Narrative Review

History of adversity is associated with subsequent psychosis, and with a spectrum of cognitive alterations in individuals with psychosis. These cognitive features go from neurocognitive aspects as working memory and attention, to complex social cognitive processes as theory of mind and emotional perception. Difficulties in these domains impact patients' social and occupational functioning, which has been shown to be more impaired in those previously exposed to childhood trauma. However, the interplay between adversity, neurocognition, and functioning is yet poorly understood. This narrative review aims to explore the evidence on whether deficits in neurocognitive and social cognitive domains may act as possible putative mechanism linking adversity with functioning in people with psychosis. We show available evidence supporting the link between adversity and poorer functioning in psychosis, especially in chronic stages; and replicated evidence suggesting associations of social cognition and, to a lesser extent, neurocognition with impairment in functioning in patients; although there is still an important gap in the literature testing particularly deficits in social cognition as mediator of the link between adversity and functional decline in psychosis. Targeting interventions focusing on neurocognition and social cognition in individuals with adversity and psychosis seems important, given the severe deterioration of these patients in these domains, although more research is needed to test whether such treatments can specifically improve functioning in individuals with psychosis and adversity. Literature aiming to understand the determinants of functional outcome should consider the pervasive impact of childhood adversity, and its related effects on cognition.