S21-01 OPUS -trial: Five-year follow-up of a RCT of specialized treatment for patients with first episode psychosis

Abstract

Objective:To determine long term effects of intensive early intervention programme (OPUS)for first episode psychotic patients.Design:RCT of two years of intensive early-intervention programme versus standard treatment. Follow-up was two and five years.Patients:547 first-episode psychotic patients were included and interviewed after two years (N=369) and five years (N=301). Registerbased information was available for all patients.Interventions:The intensive early intervention programme OPUS consisted of ACT with family involvement and social skills training.Results:At five-year follow-up, the positive effect of the OPUS treatment seen after two years had equalized between treatment groups. A significantly smaller percentage of patients from the experimental group were living in supported housing (4% vs. 10%, OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1 to 4.8, P =0.02) and were hospitalized fewer days (mean days 149 vs. 193, mean difference 44, 95% CI 0.15 to 88,12 P= 0.05) during the five-year period.Conclusions:The OPUS treatment improved clinical outcome after two years, but the effects were not sustainable up to five years after. A difference on supported housing and use of bed days were found after five years in favour of the OPUS treatment.