The Impact of the Duration of Untreated Psychosis On the Short-term Outcome in Schizophrenia

Abstract

Introduction Despite the major developments in the last decades in the treatment of psychotic disorders, schizophrenia is still associated with poor clinical and social outcome. Some studies suggested that duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is associated with poorer outcome in the long and especially short term evolution. Objectives Studying correlations between longer DUP and social and clinical outcome in schizophrenia Methods Eligible participants are those, who had a first hospitalization in the period from January 2011 to December 2012 Inclusion criteria were: stabilized patients with diagnosis of schizophrenia according to DSM IV criteria, Exclusion criteria: Mental retardation or other neurological or severe medical diseases affecting outcome, neuroleptic medication before hospitalization. DUP is defined as the time separating the first psychotic symptom and first medication contact. The sample was divided into short and long DUP, using a median split. Social functioning was assessed by global assessment of functioning (GAF), working status, number of rehospitalization during the two years after admission and quality of life by responding to SF-36 scale in its Arabic version. Results 28 patients were included (20 men and 8 women) aged from 22 to 50 years old. Median DUP was 39,5 weeks (mean DUP was 65, 86). Even if we noticed that mental and physical scores for the SF-36 were higher in the group with shorter DUP, the score for GAF was comparable for both groups and so was the working status Conclusion The impact of DUP is considerable, future challenge is to short this period as possible.