Short-term functional outcome in psychotic patients. Results of the Turku Early Psychosis Study (TEPS)

Abstract Background Functional recovery of patients with clinical and sub-clinical psychosis is associated with clinical, neuropsychological and developmental factors. Less is known how these factors predict functional outcome in same models. Aim We investigated functional outcome and its predictors in patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) or confirmed vs. non-confirmed clinical high risk to psychosis (CHR-P vs. CHR-N). Methods Altogether, 130 FEP, 60 CHR-P and 47 CHR-N patients were recruited and extensively examined at baseline (T0) and at 9 (T1) and 18 (T2) months after baseline. Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) at T0, T1 and T2, and psychotic, depression and anxiety symptoms at T1 and T2 were assessed. Functional outcome was predicted in multivariate repeated ANOVA. Results During follow-up, GAF improved significantly in FEP and CHR-P but not in CHR-N patients. In FEP, single marital status, low basic education, poor work situation, disorganised symptoms, perceptual deficits and poor premorbid adjustment, in CHR-P, disorganised symptoms and poor premorbid adjustment and in CHR-N, low basic education, poor work situation and general symptoms predicted poor functional outcome. In FEP, psychotic symptoms at T1 and in CHR-P, psychotic and depression symptoms at T1 and anxiety symptoms at T2 associated with poor functioning. Discussion In FEP and CHR-P patients, poor premorbid adjustment and disorganised symptomatology are common predictors for functional outcome, while poor education and work situation predict poor functional outcome in FEP and CHR-N patients. Interventions aimed to improve studying and ability to work are most important in improving functioning of patients with clinical or subclinical psychosis.