The duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is the time between the onset of symptoms and first psychiatric drug treatment. A large number of studies show that this time stretch is largely variable and often very long, lasting several months or even years and is associated with a worse outcome.

This retrospective study is based on an analysis of medical records, standardized format AMDP, used at the Psychiatric Clinic of the University of Cagliari. The sample consisted of 184 patients (M = 57.1%, F = 42.4%) with an history of a psychotic onset regardless of the diagnosis made. We have collected data on the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), number of relapse, number of hospitalizations, number of suicide attempts, disease duration, have been considered as course and outcome variables.

The duration of untreated psychosis is associated with an increased number of hospitalizations during the course of the disease (p = 0.04) regardless the disease duration. Our study gives a further confirmation of the fact that early intervention in first psychotic episode is necessary to improve the course of psychiatric illness.