Predictors of antipsychotic treatment response in patients with first-episode schizophrenia, schizoaffective and schizophreniform disorders

Diana O. Perkins, Jeffrey A. Lieberman, Hongbin Gu, Mauricio Tohen, Joseph Patrick McEvoy, Alan I. Green, Robert B. Zipursky, Stephen M. Strakowski, Tonmoy Sharma, René S. Kahn, Raquel Gur, Gary Tollefson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

140 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) may contribute to the observed heterogeneity of the treatment response in first-episode schizophrenia. Aims: To examine the relationship of DUP and premorbid function with clinical outcomes following up to 2 years of antipsychotic treatment. Method: For a subsample (n=191) of subjects participating in a clinical trial, DUP and premorbid function were prospectively compared with clinical response to olanzapine or haloperidol. Results: Shorter DUP and good premorbid function each independently are associated with better clinical response, including improvement in overall psychopathology and negative symptoms. Premorbid function also is associated with positive symptom, social and vocational outcomes. Conclusions: Earlier antipsychotic treatment is associated with better outcomes in first-episode schizophrenia. Poor premorbid function could indicate an illness subtype less likely to respond to antipsychotic treatment regardless of when it is instituted.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)18-24
Number of pages7
JournalBritish Journal of Psychiatry
Volume185
Issue numberJULY
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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