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Illness characteristics and symptoms in an Irish early intervention for psychosis service

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2014

J. P. Lyne*
Affiliation:
Dublin and East Treatment and Early Care Team (DETECT) Services, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
B. O’Donoghue
Affiliation:
Dublin and East Treatment and Early Care Team (DETECT) Services, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
E. Roche
Affiliation:
Dublin and East Treatment and Early Care Team (DETECT) Services, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
C. Behan
Affiliation:
Dublin and East Treatment and Early Care Team (DETECT) Services, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
I. Jordan
Affiliation:
Dublin and East Treatment and Early Care Team (DETECT) Services, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland
L. Renwick
Affiliation:
Dublin and East Treatment and Early Care Team (DETECT) Services, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland School of Nursing Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
N. Turner
Affiliation:
Dublin and East Treatment and Early Care Team (DETECT) Services, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland St. John of God Community Services Ltd, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland
E. O’Callaghan
Affiliation:
Dublin and East Treatment and Early Care Team (DETECT) Services, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland St. John of God Community Services Ltd, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland
M. Clarke
Affiliation:
Dublin and East Treatment and Early Care Team (DETECT) Services, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland St. John of God Community Services Ltd, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland
*
*Address for correspondence: J. P. Lyne, DETECT Services, Avila House, Block 5 Blackrock Business Park, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. (Email: [email protected])

Abstract

Objectives

Study of illness characteristics and symptoms in a young population with psychosis can assist for understanding of their needs, and can inform service planning strategies. The aims of the current study were to describe illness characteristics and symptoms of a first episode psychosis (FEP) sample aged 25 years and under, and compare with a sample aged over 25 years.

Methods

Interviews were conducted for 437 individuals aged 16–65 years presenting with suspected psychosis between 2005 and 2012 in a defined catchment area (population of 390 000) using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV to determine the presence of a psychosis diagnosis. Individuals with confirmed psychosis were assessed using standardised instruments to determine illness characteristics at first presentation.

Results

Among the 25 years, and under FEP sample, 23.9% had their first onset of symptoms (prodromal or psychotic) before 18 years of age. After controlling for confounders, the sample aged 25 years and under had a significantly shorter log transformed duration of untreated psychosis (p=0.002), more negative symptoms (p=0.045) and greater frequency of comorbid cannabis abuse diagnosis (p=0.027).

Conclusions

Symptom onset in a youth FEP sample frequently occurs before age 18 years. Certain illness characteristics differed across the age categories, such as greater negative symptoms and cannabis abuse in the youth sample. Overall, the findings support the provision of adequate strategies for management of negative symptom deficits and substance abuse across all ages in FEP.

Type
Original Research
Copyright
© College of Psychiatrists of Ireland 2014 

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Footnotes

Deceased.

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