Skip to main page content

• HOME
• Current
• Archive
• Feedback
• Subscribe
• Help

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by MORRISON, A. P. Articles by LEWIS, S. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by MORRISON, A. P. Articles by LEWIS, S. W.

Randomised controlled trial of early detection and cognitive therapy for preventing transition to psychosis in high-risk individuals

Study design and interim analysis of transition rate and psychological risk factors^*

Psychology Services, Mental Health Services of Salford and Department of Psychology, University of Manchester

R. P. BENTALL, PhD

Department of Psychology, University of Manchester

P. FRENCH, BA, L. WALFORD, BSc, A. KILCOMMONS, BSc, A. KNIGHT, BSc and M. KREUTZ, Diplom

Psychology Services, Mental Health Services of Salford

S. W. LEWIS, FRCPsych

Department of Psychiatry, University of Manchester, UK

Correspondence: Dr Tony Morrison, Department of Psychology, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 161 772 3439; fax: +44 (0) 161 772 3525; e-mail: tony.morrison{at}psy.man.ac.uk

Declaration of interest Funded by North-West NHS Executive.

^* Presented in part at the European First Episode Schizophrenia Network Meeting, Whistler BC, Canada, 27 April, 2001.

Background There is interest in the possibility of indicated prevention of psychosis. There is a strong case for using psychological approaches to prevent transition to psychosis in high-risk patients.

Aims To identify individuals at high risk of transition to psychosis, and psychological characteristics relevant to the development of psychosis in this group.

Method The design of a randomised controlled trial of cognitive therapy for the prevention of psychosis in people at high risk (meeting operational criteria of brief or attenuated psychotic symptoms, or first-degree family history with functional decline) is outlined. The first patients recruited are compared with non-patient samples on cognitive and personality factors; an interim analysis of transition rate is reported.

Results Cases (n=31) were recruited mainly from primary care. Of the 23 high-risk patients monitored for 6-12 months, 5 (22%) made the transition to psychosis. The high-risk group scored significantly higher than non-patients on measures of schizotypy, metacognitive beliefs and dysfunctional self-schemas (sociotropy).

Conclusions The findings validate the methods of identifying individuals at high risk of experiencing a psychotic episode. Compared with non-patient controls, the cases showed dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and self-schemas.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. R. Yung, H. P. Yuen, G. Berger, S. Francey, T.-C. Hung, B. Nelson, L. Phillips, and P. McGorry Declining Transition Rate in Ultra High Risk (Prodromal) Services: Dilution or Reduction of Risk? Schizophr Bull, May 1, 2007; 33(3): 673 - 681. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Parker and S. Lewis Identification of young people at risk of psychosis Adv. Psychiatr. Treat., July 1, 2006; 12(4): 249 - 255. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. LEWIS The European First-Episode Schizophrenia Network The British Journal of Psychiatry, September 1, 2002; 181 (43): s1 - s2. [Full Text] [PDF]