OBJECTIVES: A long duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is associated with a poorer prognosis and with worse functional outcome. The aim of the study was to show that early treatment with antipsychotics in the prodromal phase improves the outcome; to compare outcome in patients with DUP longer than 1 year (group 1) with patients who had received treatment with antipsychotic medication in the prodromal phase of the disease (group 0). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 87 patients with schizophrenia were included in the retrospective study, 37 patients in group 0 and 50 patients in group 1. Sociodemographic parameters were evaluated, including employment, marital status and educational level. Groups were compared during the acute psychosis of first episode (t1) and at the conclusion of the study (t2). RESULTS: Vocational status was worse in group 1 with a higher degree of unemployment and disability than in group 0 (chi(2)=17.47, df=4, p=0.002) at t2. More than half of the patients in group 1 were on disability benefit as compared to 19% of patients in group 0. At t1 differences were not statistically significant (chi(2)=4.15, df=3, p=0.245). There were more single patients in group 1 during both evaluations. At t1 almost half of the patients in group 0 were married; in group 1 only 18% were married (chi(2)=11.47, df=3, p=0.003). Also at t2 more patients in group 0 were married than in group 1 (chi(2)=8.01, df=3, p=0.046). Significant differences between the groups in achieved educational level were noted only at t1 (chi(2)=9.65, df=3, p=0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Better outcome can be achieved with early antipsychotic treatment in the prodromal phase.
OBJECTIVES: A long duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is associated with a poorer prognosis and with worse functional outcome. The aim of the study was to show that early treatment with antipsychotics in the prodromal phase improves the outcome; to compare outcome in patients with DUP longer than 1 year (group 1) with patients who had received treatment with antipsychotic medication in the prodromal phase of the disease (group 0). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 87 patients with schizophrenia were included in the retrospective study, 37 patients in group 0 and 50 patients in group 1. Sociodemographic parameters were evaluated, including employment, marital status and educational level. Groups were compared during the acute psychosis of first episode (t1) and at the conclusion of the study (t2). RESULTS: Vocational status was worse in group 1 with a higher degree of unemployment and disability than in group 0 (chi(2)=17.47, df=4, p=0.002) at t2. More than half of the patients in group 1 were on disability benefit as compared to 19% of patients in group 0. At t1 differences were not statistically significant (chi(2)=4.15, df=3, p=0.245). There were more single patients in group 1 during both evaluations. At t1 almost half of the patients in group 0 were married; in group 1 only 18% were married (chi(2)=11.47, df=3, p=0.003). Also at t2 more patients in group 0 were married than in group 1 (chi(2)=8.01, df=3, p=0.046). Significant differences between the groups in achieved educational level were noted only at t1 (chi(2)=9.65, df=3, p=0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Better outcome can be achieved with early antipsychotic treatment in the prodromal phase.