Citation

Chen EY, Tang JY, Hui CLM, Chiu CP, Lam MM, Law CW, Yew CW, Wong GH, Chung DW, Tso S, Chan KP, Yip KC, Hung SF, Honer WG. Early Interv. Psychiatry 2011; 5(4): 315-323.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital United Centre of Emotional Health and Positive Living, United Christian Nethersole Community Health Service Department of Psychiatry, Tai Po Hospital Department of Psychiatry, Castle Peak Hospital Department of Psychiatry, Kwai Chung Hospital Department of Psychiatry, Kowloon Hospital, Hong Kong University of British Columbia, Centre for Complex Disorders, BC Mental Health & Addictions Research Institute (BCMHARI), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1751-7893.2011.00279.x

PMID

21726421

Abstract

Aim: Although phase-specific early intervention for first-episode psychosis has been implemented in many different parts of the world, limited medium-term outcome data are available in non-Western populations with relatively low mental health resources. The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of phase-specific early intervention in first-episode psychosis. Method: In this cohort study, we compared the 3-year outcome of 700 first-episode psychosis patients who received phase-specific early intervention with that of 700 patients matched for age, sex and diagnosis who received standard psychiatric care prior to early intervention. Using a structured data acquisition procedure, we determined functional outcome, symptom levels, relapse, recovery, suicidal behaviour and service utilization from clinical records. Results: Patients in the early intervention group had longer full-time employment or study (P < 0.001), fewer days of hospitalization (P < 0.001), less severe positive symptom (P = 0.006), less severe negative symptom (P = 0.001), fewer suicides (P = 0.009) and fewer disengagements (P = 0.002) than the historical control group. Additionally, more patients in the early intervention group experienced a period of recovery (P = 0.001), but the two groups had similar rates of relapse (P = 0.08) and durations of untreated psychosis (P = 0.72). Conclusions: The 3-year outcome in phase-specific early intervention compared favourably with that of standard psychiatric care, particularly with respect to functional outcome and reduction in hospitalizations, suicides and disengagements. However, intervention did not appear to reduce the rate of relapse.

Language: en