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

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Abstract

Objectives

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

Methods

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

Results

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

Conclusions

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

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Treatment and Early Intervention in Psychosis Program (TIPP), Département de Psychiatrie CHUV, Université de Lausanne, Clinique de Cery, 1008, Prilly, Switzerland

    Philippe Conus

  2. Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, 35 Poplar Road, Parkville Victoria, Melbourne, 3052, Australia

    Philippe Conus, Sue Cotton & Patrick D. McGorry

  3. Centre for Youth Mental Health University of Melbourne, 35 Poplar Road, Parkville Victoria, Melbourne, 3052, Australia

    Sue Cotton & Patrick D. McGorry

  4. Department of Child- and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Benno G. Schimmelmann

  5. Psychosis Early Detection and Intervention Centre (PEDIC), Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    Benno G. Schimmelmann & Martin Lambert

Authors
  1. Philippe Conus
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  2. Sue Cotton
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  3. Benno G. Schimmelmann
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  4. Patrick D. McGorry
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  5. Martin Lambert
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Philippe Conus.

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Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest for any of the authors regarding the content of this publication.

Funding

This study was made possible by an investigator initiated trial grant to Prof Matin Lambert from Eli Lilly Australia.

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Conus, P., Cotton, S., Schimmelmann, B.G. et al. Rates and predictors of 18-months remission in an epidemiological cohort of 661 patients with first-episode psychosis. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 52, 1089–1099 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1388-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1388-7

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