Persistent psychoses in first episode patients.

This study was carried out to identify characteristics of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder who continue to have persistent psychoses (15%) for 2 years after initiation of treatment by comparing them to those who maintained full recovery of positive symptoms (42%) up to 2 years. Compared to those in recovery, significantly more patients with persistent psychoses were single, male, had a higher prevalence of drug abuse and abnormal EEG findings at presentation for treatment. Duration of untreated psychoses or untreated illness did not discriminate between the groups.