The British Journal of Psychiatry (2009) 194: 181-182. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.047951
© 2009 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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SHORT REPORTS

Duration of untreated prodromal symptoms and 12-month functional outcome of individuals at risk of psychosis

P. Fusar-Poli, MD

OASIS, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, and Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK

A. Meneghelli, MD

Programma 2000, A.O. Ospedale Niguarda Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy

L. Valmaggia, PhD and P. Allen, PhD

OASIS, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, and Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK

F. Galvan, MD

Programma 2000, A.O. Ospedale Niguarda Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy

P. McGuire, PhD

OASIS, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, and Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK

A. Cocchi, MD

Programma 2000, A.O. Ospedale Niguarda Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy

Correspondence: P. Fusar-Poli, Neuroimaging Section, PO67, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. Email: p.fusar{at}libero.it

Declaration of interest

None.

Individuals seeking help from prodromal services may have been experiencing attenuated psychotic features and psychosocial impairments for a long period prior to referral. The effect of an extended duration of these untreated `at risk' symptoms on patients' long-term functional outcome was assessed in a 12-month longitudinal observational study (n=49). A longer duration of untreated `at risk' symptoms was correlated with a reduced improvement in Global Assessment of Functioning scores after 12 months (β=–0.375, P=0.008). This effect was independent of age and gender and may have implications for the improvement of treatment strategies in pre-psychotic phases.


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