Citation

Iyer SN, Mustafa SS, Moro L, Jarvis GE, Joober R, Abadi S, Casacalenda N, Margolese HC, Abdel-Baki A, Lepage M, Malla A. Can. J. Psychiatry 2021; 66(5): 468-476.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Canadian Psychiatric Association, Publisher SAGE Publications)

DOI

10.1177/0706743720961714

PMID

32986470

PMCID

PMC8107949

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate whether individuals with first-episode psychosis (FEP) receiving extended early intervention (EI) were less likely to experience suicidal ideation and behaviors than those transferred to regular care after 2 years of EI. Another objective was to examine the 5-year course of suicidality in FEP.
METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial where 220 patients were randomized after 2 years of EI to receive extended EI or regular care for the subsequent 3 years. Suicidality was rated using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Linear mixed model analysis was used to study time and group effects on suicidality.
RESULTS: Extended EI and regular care groups did not differ on suicidality. There was a small decrease in suicidality over time, F(7, 1038) = 1.84, P = 0.077, with an immediate sharp decline within a month of treatment, followed by stability over the remaining 5 years. Patients who endorsed suicidality at entry (46.6%) had higher baseline positive, negative, and depressive symptoms. The 5-year course fell in 3 groups: never endorsed suicidality (33.9%), endorsed suicidality at low-risk levels (43.1%), and endorsed high-risk levels (23.0%). The high-risk group had a higher proportion of affective versus nonaffective psychosis diagnosis; higher baseline positive and depressive symptoms; higher 5-year mean depression scores, and fewer weeks of positive symptom remission over the 5-year course.
CONCLUSIONS: The first month of treatment is a critical period for suicide risk in FEP. Although early reductions in suicidality are often maintained, our findings make the case for sustained monitoring for suicide risk management.

Language: en

Keywords

depressive symptoms; early intervention; first-episode psychosis; Humans; longitudinal course; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychotic Disorders; RCT; Suicidal Ideation; suicidality; Suicide