The American Journal of Psychiatry
Journal Home Search Current Issue Past Issues Subscribe All APPI Journals Help Contact Us
 
Quicksearch
Advanced Search
Or Search All APPI Journals
This Article
* Full Text
* Full Text (PDF)
* Correction (v158,p986)
* Alert me when this article is cited
* Alert me if a correction is posted
* Citation Map
Services
* Email this article to a Colleague
* Similar articles in this journal
* Similar articles in PubMed
* Alert me to new issues of the journal
* Add to My Articles & Searches
* Download to citation manager
* reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
* Citing Articles via HighWire
* Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
* Articles by Ho, B.-C.
* Articles by Miller, D.
* Search for Related Content
PubMed
* PubMed Citation
* Articles by Ho, B.-C.
* Articles by Miller, D.
Related Collections
* Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
* Symptoms/Dimensions
Am J Psychiatry 157:808-815, May 2000
© 2000 American Psychiatric Association

Article

Untreated Initial Psychosis: Its Relation to Quality of Life and Symptom Remission in First-Episode Schizophrenia

Beng-Choon Ho, M.R.C.Psych., Nancy C. Andreasen, M.D., Ph.D., Michael Flaum, M.D., Peg Nopoulos, M.D., and Del Miller, Pharm.D., M.D.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have suggested that there may be an association between longer duration of untreated psychosis and poor outcome in schizophrenia. These studies have been interpreted as providing evidence that untreated psychosis may constitute an "active morbid process" that is "toxic" to the brain. If untreated psychosis is neurotoxic, this would form a strong basis for early intervention in schizophrenia. METHOD: Seventy-four neuroleptic-naive patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia were evaluated 6 months after their first inpatient hospitalization. The authors examined the relationship between untreated initial psychosis duration (measured from onset of first symptom as well as from onset of full positive syndrome) and quality of life, symptom severity, and time to remission of positive symptoms. RESULTS: Earlier age at illness onset was associated with longer duration of untreated prodromal psychotic symptoms. There were no significant gender differences in duration of untreated initial psychosis, nor were there any significant associations between untreated initial psychosis duration and premorbid functioning. After controlling for the effects of age at onset, the duration of untreated initial psychosis did not significantly impair subsequent quality of life, symptom severity, or remission of positive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Duration of untreated initial psychosis was not prognostic of poor outcome early in the course of schizophrenia. Biological measures of neurotoxicity are needed to examine the "toxic psychosis" hypothesis more directly.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
S. P. Singh
Outcome measures in early psychosis: Relevance of duration of untreated psychosis
The British Journal of Psychiatry, August 1, 2007; 191(50): s58 - s63.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Schizophr BullHome page
L. Wunderink, F. J. Nienhuis, S. Sytema, and D. Wiersma
Predictive Validity of Proposed Remission Criteria in First-Episode Schizophrenic Patients Responding to Antipsychotics
Schizophr Bull, May 1, 2007; 33(3): 792 - 796.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J PsychopharmacolHome page
H. A. Nasrallah and R. Lasser
Improving patient outcomes in schizophrenia: achieving remission.
J Psychopharmacol, November 1, 2006; 20(6 Suppl): 57 - 61.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
M. Clarke, P. Whitty, S. Browne, O. McTigue, M. Kamali, M. Gervin, A. Kinsella, J. L. Waddington, C. Larkin, and E. O'Callaghan
Untreated illness and outcome of psychosis
The British Journal of Psychiatry, September 1, 2006; 189(3): 235 - 240.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. PsychiatryHome page
R. Emsley, J. Rabinowitz, and R. Medori
Time Course for Antipsychotic Treatment Response in First-Episode Schizophrenia
Am J Psychiatry, April 1, 2006; 163(4): 743 - 745.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Gen PsychiatryHome page
M. Marshall, S. Lewis, A. Lockwood, R. Drake, P. Jones, and T. Croudace
Association Between Duration of Untreated Psychosis and Outcome in Cohorts of First-Episode Patients: A Systematic Review
Arch Gen Psychiatry, September 1, 2005; 62(9): 975 - 983.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
R. M.G. NORMAN, S. W. LEWIS, and M. MARSHALL
Duration of untreated psychosis and its relationship to clinical outcome
The British Journal of Psychiatry, August 1, 2005; 187(48): s19 - s23.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
G. REMINGTON
Rational pharmacotherapy in early psychosis
The British Journal of Psychiatry, August 1, 2005; 187(48): s77 - s84.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
R. WARNER
Problems with early and very early intervention in psychosis
The British Journal of Psychiatry, August 1, 2005; 187(48): s104 - s107.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Schizophr BullHome page
A. Malla and J. Payne
First-Episode Psychosis: Psychopathology, Quality of Life, and Functional Outcome
Schizophr Bull, July 1, 2005; 31(3): 650 - 671.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. PsychiatryHome page
N. C. Andreasen, W. T. Carpenter Jr., J. M. Kane, R. A. Lasser, S. R. Marder, and D. R. Weinberger
Remission in Schizophrenia: Proposed Criteria and Rationale for Consensus
Am J Psychiatry, March 1, 2005; 162(3): 441 - 449.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Gen PsychiatryHome page
I. Melle, T. K. Larsen, U. Haahr, S. Friis, J. O. Johannessen, S. Opjordsmoen, E. Simonsen, B. R. Rund, P. Vaglum, and T. McGlashan
Reducing the Duration of Untreated First-Episode Psychosis: Effects on Clinical Presentation
Arch Gen Psychiatry, February 1, 2004; 61(2): 143 - 150.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
A. SKEATE, C. JACKSON, M. BIRCHWOOD, and C. JONES
Duration of untreated psychosis and pathways to care in first-episode psychosis: Investigation of help-seeking behaviour in primary care
The British Journal of Psychiatry, September 1, 2002; 181 (43): s73 - s77.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. PsychiatryHome page
P. D. McGORRY, S. M. HARRIGAN, P. AMMINGER, R. NORMAN, and A. MALLA
Untreated Initial Psychosis
Am J Psychiatry, July 1, 2001; 158(7): 1161 - 1162.
[Full Text]

Home page
 Evid. Based Ment. HealthHome page
M. V Seeman
Poor insight, social avoidance, and better coping predicted prolonged duration of untreated psychosis in schizophreniaCommentary
Evid. Based Ment. Health, May 1, 2001; 4(2): 57 - 57.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. PsychiatryHome page
J. A. Lieberman and W. S. Fenton
Delayed Detection of Psychosis: Causes, Consequences, and Effect on Public Health
Am J Psychiatry, November 1, 2000; 157(11): 1727 - 1730.
[Full Text]

Home page
 Am. J. PsychiatryHome page
A. L. Hoff, M. Sakuma, K. Razi, G. Heydebrand, J. G. Csernansky, and L. E. DeLisi
Lack of Association Between Duration of Untreated Illness and Severity of Cognitive and Structural Brain Deficits at the First Episode of Schizophrenia
Am J Psychiatry, November 1, 2000; 157(11): 1824 - 1828.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2000 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us

American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. American Psychiatric Association
1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1825, Arlington, VA 22209-3901 * 800-368-5777 * appi at psych.org