Duration of untreated psychosis and response in first‐episode psychosis

Objective  It is suggested that the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is directly correlated to the outcome of the illness. This study examines the effect of DUP on the acute response of patients with first-episode psychosis. Method  In this naturalistic study, 55 Asian patients with first-episode psychosis were assessed weekly for 6 weeks on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Simpson–Angus Rating Scale, Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale and the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale. Clinical response was defined as a 20% or greater reduction in PANSS from baseline. Results  After 6 weeks, the response rate was 67% (n=37). The responders had a mean DUP of 14.7 ± 20.2 months and a median of 6 months. This was significantly shorter when compared to the mean DUP 37.3 (SD=32.7) months, median of 36 months of the nonresponders (Mann–Whitney U-test, P=0.37). There was no significant difference in the mean daily dose of antipsychotics, themean Simpson–Angus Scale, the Barnes Akathisia Scale and the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale scores between the responders and nonresponders. Conclusions  The study results suggest that DUP is a predictor of acute response in first episode psychosis.