Rates and predictors of disengagement of patients with first-episode psychosis from the early intervention service for sychosis service (EASY) covering 15 to 64 years of age in Hong Kong

AIM: This study aims at assessing the rate and predictors of disengagement of patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) from the early intervention (EI) service in Hong Kong (EASY) that covers age 15 to 64. METHODS: All FEP patients aged 15 to 64 years who were newly registered with the EASY programme of Kowloon West Psychiatric Unit from January to December 2012 were included. Data on socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and disengagement over 3 years of the EI service were obtained retrospectively through systematic clinical record review. Predictors of 3 different types of disengagement and their rate of occurrence were identified: complete disengagement (type I), disengaged and re-engaged through hospitalization (type II) and re-engaged as outpatient (type III). RESULTS: Among the 277 patients included for analysis, 36 patients (13%) had type I disengagement, 17.2% (N = 21) were of age 15 to 25 and 9.7% (N = 15) were of age 25 to 64. Type II and type III disengagements were 4.3% and 13.4%, respectively. Early-stage poor drug compliance significantly predicted type I and type II disengagements. History of substance use, suicidal attempts and poor drug compliance predicted type III disengagement. Younger patients had significant earlier disengagement (χ2  = 5.01, df = 1, P = .025). CONCLUSION: Results of the current study highlighted the different patterns of disengagement for different age groups and the importance of identifying the high-risk group at early stage of the illness. With the expansion of EI service for wider age group, studies of the differential needs of patient with different ages would be important to guide the future service development.