Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T05:04:52.677Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The association between pre-morbid adjustment, duration of untreated psychosis and outcome in first-episode psychosis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 April 2008

P. Jeppesen*
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre Bispebjerg, Copenhagen NV, Denmark
L. Petersen
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre Bispebjerg, Copenhagen NV, Denmark
A. Thorup
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre Bispebjerg, Copenhagen NV, Denmark
M.-B. Abel
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre Bispebjerg, Copenhagen NV, Denmark
J. Øhlenschlæger
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre Sct Hans, Roskilde, Denmark
T. Ø. Christensen
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Hospital Risskov, Risskov, Denmark
G. Krarup
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Hospital Risskov, Risskov, Denmark
P. Jørgensen
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Hospital Risskov, Risskov, Denmark
M. Nordentoft
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre Bispebjerg, Copenhagen NV, Denmark
*
*Address for correspondence: P. Jeppesen, M.D., Ph.D., Psychiatric Centre Bispebjerg, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark. (Email: [email protected])

Abstract

Background

The association between the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and outcome of schizophrenia may be confounded by other factors such as poor pre-morbid adjustment. The aim of the present study was to examine the independent contributions of DUP and of pre-morbid adjustment to the clinical and social outcomes of schizophrenia.

Method

A longitudinal, prospective, 2-year follow-up study of 423 patients with first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum psychosis was conducted. Patients were comprehensively assessed at entry, 1-year and 2-year follow-up. At entry, DUP was measured by IRAOS (an instrument for the assessment of onset and early course of schizophrenia) and pre-morbid adjustment was measured by the Pre-morbid Adjustment Scale (PAS) as ‘pre-morbid social adaptation’ and ‘pre-morbid school adaptation’. Outcome measures included the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), the Social Network Schedule and social information. Multiple linear regression models were used for data analysis.

Results

The median DUP was 48 weeks, which is long compared to other studies. Longer DUP was independently associated with more psychotic symptoms at entry, 1-year and 2-year follow-up. Poorer pre-morbid social adaptation was independently associated with more negative symptoms and smaller social network at entry and 1-year follow-up. Poorer pre-morbid school adaptation was independently associated with poor vocational outcome at 1-year and 2-year follow-up.

Conclusions

Longer DUP is associated with poorer 2-year outcome of psychosis in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, when pre-morbid functioning and other prognostic factors are controlled for. Impaired pre-morbid development is independently associated with more negative symptoms and poorer social outcome.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Addington, J, van Mastrigt, S, Addington, D (2004). Duration of untreated psychosis: impact on 2-year outcome. Psychological Medicine 34, 277284.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Andreasen, NC, Arndt, S, Alliger, R, Miller, D, Flaum, M (1995). Symptoms of schizophrenia. Methods, meanings, and mechanisms. Archives of General Psychiatry 52, 341351.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cahn, W, Pol, HE, Lems, EB, van Haren, NE, Schnack, HG, van der Linden, JA, Schothorst, PF, van Engeland, H, Kahn, RS (2002). Brain volume changes in first-episode schizophrenia: a 1-year follow-up study. Archives of General Psychiatry 59, 10021010.Google Scholar
Cannon-Spoor, HE, Potkin, SG, Wyatt, RJ (1982). Measurement of premorbid adjustment in chronic schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin 8, 470484.Google Scholar
Clarke, M, Whitty, P, Browne, S, McTigue, O, Kamali, M, Gervin, M, Kinsella, A, Waddington, JL, Larkin, C, O'Callaghan, E (2006). Untreated illness and outcome of psychosis. British Journal of Psychiatry 189, 235240.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Crespo-Facorro, B, Roiz-Santianez, R, Pelayo-Teran, JM, Gonzalez-Blanch, C, Perez-Iglesias, R, Gutierrez, A, de Lucas, EM, Tordesillas, D, Vazquez-Barquero, JL (2007). Caudate nucleus volume and its clinical and cognitive correlations in first episode schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research 91, 8796.Google Scholar
Dunn, M, O'Driscoll, C, Dayson, D, Wills, W, Leff, J (1990). The TAPS Project. 4: An observational study of the social life of long-stay patients. British Journal of Psychiatry 157, 842848, 852.Google Scholar
Glenthoj, BY, Mogensen, J, Laursen, H, Hemmingsen, R (1999). Dopaminergic sensitization of rats with and without early prefrontal lesions: implications for the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology 2, 271281.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Haas, GL, Sweeney, JA (1992). Premorbid and onset features of first-episode schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin 18, 373386.Google Scholar
Hafner, H, Riecher-Rossler, A, Hambrecht, M, Maurer, K, Meissner, S, Schmidtke, A, Fatkenheuer, B, Loffler, W, van der Heiden, W (1992). IRAOS: an instrument for the assessment of onset and early course of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research 6, 209223.Google Scholar
Hollis, C (2003). Developmental precursors of child- and adolescent-onset schizophrenia and affective psychoses: diagnostic specificity and continuity with symptom dimensions. British Journal of Psychiatry 182, 3744.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jeppesen, P, Petersen, L, Thorup, A, Abel, MB, Oehlenschlaeger, J, Christensen, TO, Krarup, G, Hemmingsen, R, Jorgensen, P, Nordentoft, M (2005). Integrated treatment of first-episode psychosis: effect of treatment on family burden: OPUS trial. British Journal of Psychiatry Supplement 48, s85s90.Google Scholar
Keshavan, MS, Haas, GL, Kahn, CE, Aguilar, E, Dick, EL, Schooler, NR, Sweeney, JA, Pettegrew, JW (1998). Superior temporal gyrus and the course of early schizophrenia: progressive, static, or reversible? Journal of Psychiatric Research 32, 161167.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lappin, JM, Morgan, K, Morgan, C, Hutchison, G, Chitnis, X, Suckling, J, Fearon, P, McGuire, PK, Jones, PB, Leff, J, Murray, RM, Dazzan, P (2006). Gray matter abnormalities associated with duration of untreated psychosis. Schizophrenia Research 83, 145153.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Larsen, TK, Friis, S, Haahr, U, Johannessen, JO, Melle, I, Opjordsmoen, S, Rund, BR, Simonsen, E, Vaglum, PV, McGlashan, TH (2004). Premorbid adjustment in first-episode non-affective psychosis: distinct patterns of pre-onset course. British Journal of Psychiatry 185, 108115.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Larsen, TK, Melle, I, Auestad, B, Friis, S, Haahr, U, Johannessen, JO, Opjordsmoen, S, Rund, BR, Simonsen, E, Vaglum, P, McGlashan, T (2006). Early detection of first-episode psychosis: the effect on 1-year outcome. Schizophrenia Bulletin 32, 758764.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Malla, A, Norman, R, Bechard-Evans, L, Schmitz, N, Manchanda, R, Cassidy, C (2008). Factors influencing relapse during a 2-year follow-up of first-episode psychosis in a specialized early intervention service. Psychological Medicine. Published online 21 January 2008. doi: 10.1017/S0033291707002656.Google Scholar
Marshall, M, Lewis, S, Lockwood, A, Drake, R, Jones, P, Croudace, T (2005). Association between duration of untreated psychosis and outcome in cohorts of first-episode patients: a systematic review. Archives of General Psychiatry 62, 975983.Google Scholar
Maurer, K, Hafner, H (1995). Methodological aspects of onset assessment in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research 15, 265276.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McGlashan, TH (1999). Duration of untreated psychosis in first-episode schizophrenia: marker or determinant of course? Biological Psychiatry 46, 899907.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Melle, I, Larsen, TK, Haahr, U, Friis, S, Johannessen, JO, Opjordsmoen, S, Simonsen, E, Rund, BR, Vaglum, P, McGlashan, T (2004). Reducing the duration of untreated first-episode psychosis: effects on clinical presentation. Archives of General Psychiatry 61, 143150.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Perkins, DO, Gu, H, Boteva, K, Lieberman, JA (2005). Relationship between duration of untreated psychosis and outcome in first-episode schizophrenia: a critical review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Psychiatry 162, 17851804.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Petersen, L, Jeppesen, P, Thorup, A, Abel, MB, Ohlenschlaeger, J, Christensen, TO, Krarup, G, Jorgensen, P, Nordentoft, M (2005). A randomised multicentre trial of integrated versus standard treatment for patients with a first episode of psychotic illness. British Medical Journal 331, 602605.Google Scholar
Schimmelmann, BG, Huber, CG, Lambert, M, Cotton, S, McGorry, PD, Conus, P (2008). Impact of duration of untreated psychosis on pre-treatment, baseline, and outcome characteristics in an epidemiological first-episode psychosis cohort. Journal of Psychiatric Research. Published online 15 January 2008. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2007.12.001.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schmitz, N, Malla, A, Norman, R, Archie, S, Zipursky, R (2007). Inconsistency in the relationship between duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and negative symptoms: sorting out the problem of heterogeneity. Schizophrenia Research 93, 152159.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sporn, AL, Greenstein, DK, Gogtay, N, Jeffries, NO, Lenane, M, Gochman, P, Clasen, LS, Blumenthal, J, Giedd, JN, Rapoport, JL (2003). Progressive brain volume loss during adolescence in childhood-onset schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry 160, 21812189.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Takahashi, T, Suzuki, M, Tanino, R, Zhou, SY, Hagino, H, Niu, L, Kawasaki, Y, Seto, H, Kurachi, M (2007). Volume reduction of the left planum temporale gray matter associated with long duration of untreated psychosis in schizophrenia: a preliminary report. Psychiatry Research 154, 209219.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van Haren, NE, Hulshoff Pol, HE, Schnack, HG, Cahn, W, Mandl, RC, Collins, DL, Evans, AC, Kahn, RS (2007). Focal gray matter changes in schizophrenia across the course of the illness: a 5-year follow-up study. Neuropsychopharmacology 32, 20572066.Google Scholar
van Mastrigt, S, Addington, J (2002). Assessment of premorbid function in first-episode schizophrenia: modifications to the Premorbid Adjustment Scale. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience 27, 92101.Google Scholar
WHO (1993). The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioral Disorders: Diagnostic Criteria for Research. World Health Organization: Geneva.Google Scholar
WHO (1998). Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry, version 2.1. Division of Mental Health, World Health Organization: Geneva.Google Scholar
Wyatt, RJ (1991). Neuroleptics and the natural course of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin 17, 325351.Google Scholar