Baseline profiles of adolescent vs. adult-onset first-episode psychosis in an early detection program. Inge Joa et al
Baseline profiles of adolescent vs. adult-onset first-episode psychosis in an early detection program. Inge Joa et al
1 Psychiatric Division, Regional Centre for Clinical Research in Psychosis, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway , 2 Division of Psychiatry, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway , 3 Psychiatric Research Unit and University of Copenhagen, Zealand Region Psychiatry Roskilde, Roskilde, Denmark , 4 Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway , 5 Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA and 6 Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Medicine, The Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway
Correspondence to Mr Inge Joa, Psychiatric Division, Regional Centre for Clinical Research in Psychosis, Stavanger University Hospital, Armauer Hansens vei. 4014 Stavanger, Norway.
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S
KEYWORDS
first-episode psychosis • duration of untreated psychosis • adolescence
Joa I, Johannessen JO, Langeveld J, Friis S, Melle I, Opjordsmoen S, Simonsen E, Vaglum P, McGlashan T, Larsen TK.
Baseline profiles of adolescent vs. adult-onset first-episode psychosis in an early detection program.
Baseline profiles of adolescent vs. adult-onset first-episode psychosis in an early detection program
ABSTRACT
Objective: Psychotic disorders often start in adolescence. We aim to investigate premorbid and baseline differences characterizing patients with an onset of psychosis in adolescence versus adulthood.
Method: We compare first-episode, DSM-IV non-affective psychosis with onset before (n = 43) and after (n = 189) 18 years on duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), level of symptoms, suicidal behaviour, and other baseline clinical and demographic characteristics.
Results: Adolescent onset patients had poorer premorbid functioning, a longer DUP, higher suicidality, and more depressive symptoms. They also had better cognition, fewer psychotic symptoms, and were more likely to be treated on an out-patient basis.
Conclusion: Adolescents with first-episode psychosis may have a slower and more silent, i.e. insidious onset, and are at risk of experiencing longer treatment delays than adults. They fit the description of what used to be labeled process (versus reactive) schizophrenia.
Accepted for publication December 2, 2008, '
