Clinical-psychopathological peculiarities of the prodromal stage of psychosis

Abstract

IntroductionUnder conditions of growing of mental pathology in population, the European Psychiatric Association proposes an early detection of such pathology and timely medical interventions as the main strategy. First of all, this concerns psychoses at whole, and schizophrenia particularly, as the most disabling mental disorders. Here, a special role belongs to early interventions in the prodromal stage of psychosis (PSP). Such interventions might prevent development of the pathological process, promote solving of everyday and financial problems of patients, an early restoring of cognitive deficits and social functioning.AimTo investigate clinical-psychopathological peculiarities and quality of life (QoL) of patients with PSP 72 patients (first hospitalization) with acute polymorph psychotic disorder (F23.0, F23.1) were examined both in the format of real time and retrospectively.MethodsA clinical-psychopathological and psychometric (PANSS, Scale of Suicidal Risk, SOPS, Scale for Detection of Clinical-Dynamic Variant of Course of Prodromal Period, PAS-SI) methods; the Method for Assessment of Integrative QoL Index.ResultsIn the patients clinical-psychopathological impairments in the PSP period manifested in form of a lowered stress tolerability (80.5%), agitation (40.2%), anxious conditions (72.2%), tension, concentration and attention problems (68.0%), sleep disorders (93.0%), contents of thoughts (56.9%). The patients had low QoL indexes on scales of personality realization (81.9%), psychological well-being (87.5%), and a general QoL impression (95.8%).ConclusionsThe abovementioned clinical manifestations should be considered as PSP diagnostic criteria, which open possibilities for an early interventions and prevention of consequences of this pathology.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.