Early diagnosis of schizophrenia is often delayed in first-episode psychosis and this could be viewed as an obstacle for a proper therapeutic approach and optimal clinical management.

Our main objective was to identify baseline socio-demographic variables in first-episode psychosis which are associated with an increased likelihood of diagnosing schizophrenia in the second episode of psychosis. As a secondary objective we aimed to assess the diagnostic stability between first and second episode psychosis.

Data belonging to 100 patients that were twice admitted in Timisoara Psychiatric Clinic, between 2010 and 2015, for two distinct and consequent episodes of psychosis, were analyzed. The first admittance had to coincide with first episode psychosis.

Logistic binary regression showed that a younger mean age (OR = 0.90; 95% CI = 0.85–0.95), a more unfavorable professional status (OR = 3.75; 95% CI = 1.10–12.74) and a lesser quality of social support (OR = 3.47; 95% CI = 1.11–10.82) at the onset of the first episode of psychosis were associated with an increased likelihood for a subsequent diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Identifying an initial socio-demographical profile with a high predictive value for a subsequent outcome towards schizophrenia should encourage using this diagnosis starting with the first episode of psychosis.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.