To what extent psychotic symptoms in first-episode psychosis (FEP) with a history of childhood interpersonal trauma (CIT) are less responsive to antipsychotic medication is not known. In this longitudinal study, we compare symptom trajectories and remission over the first 2 years of treatment in FEP with and without CIT and examine if differences are linked to the use of antipsychotics.

FEP (N = 191) were recruited from in- and outpatient services 1997–2000, and assessed at baseline, 3 months, 1 and 2 years. Inclusion criteria were 15–65 years, actively psychotic with a DSM-IV diagnosis of psychotic disorder and no previous adequate treatment for psychosis. Antipsychotic medication is reported as defined daily dosage (DDD). CIT (<18) was assessed with the Brief Betrayal Trauma Survey, and symptomatic remission based on scores from the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.

CIT (n = 63, 33%) was not associated with symptomatic remission at 2 years follow-up (71% in remission, 14% in relapse), or time to first remission (CIT 12/ no-CIT 9 weeks, p = 0.51). Those with CIT had significantly more severe positive, depressive, and excited symptoms. FEP with physical (N = 39, 20%) or emotional abuse (N = 22, 14, 7%) had higher DDD at 1 year (p < 0.05). Mean DDD did not excerpt a significant between-group effect on symptom trajectories of positive symptoms.

Results indicate that antipsychotic medication is equally beneficial in the achievement of symptomatic remission in FEP after 2 years independent of CIT. Still, FEP patients with CIT had more severe positive, depressive, and excited symptoms throughout.

Recently there has been a renewed interest in defining the boundaries and subdomains of the negative syndrome in schizophrenia and new scales have been asked for. Apathy is one of the symptoms in focus. The Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) with its clinical version (AES-C) is one of the most used scales in an interdisciplinary context, but it has never previously been used in a population with first episode psychosis. The main aims of this study were to examine the psychometric properties of the AES-C and its relationship to the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).

A total of 104 patients with first episode psychosis from the ongoing Thematic Organized Psychosis Research (TOP) study were included.

A factor analysis of the AES-C identified three subscales: Apathy, Insight and Social Contacts. Only the Apathy subscale showed satisfactory psychometric properties and showed acceptable convergent and discriminate properties by correlating strongly with the apathy-related items of the PANSS.

This study shows that the AES-C measures more than one dimension. The main factor, the Apathy subscale, can however be used to assess apathy in first episode psychosis patients in the ongoing work of refining the subdomains of the negative syndrome.

Recientemente ha aumentado el interés por definir los límites y subdominios del síndrome negativo de la esquizofrenia y se han buscado nuevas escalas. La apatía es uno de los síntomas analizados. La Escala de Evaluacion de la Apatía (AES) con su version clínica (AES-C) es una de las escalas más usada en un contexto interdisciplinario, pero no se ha usado antes en poblaciones con el primer episodio de psicosis. Los objetivos principales de este estudio fueron examinar las propiedades psicométricas de la AES-C y su relación con la Escala de Síndrome Positiva y Negativa (PANSS).

Se incluyeron 104 pacientes con un primer episodio de psicosis del estudio de Investigación Tematicá Organizada de la Psicosis (TOP).

En el análisis de los factores de la AES-C se identificaron tres subescalas: Apatía, Percepción y Contactos Sociales. Sólo la subescala de Apatía exhibió propiedades psicométricas satisfactorias y propiedades convergentes y discriminatorias aceptables por correlación fuerte con los apartados del PANSS relacionados con la apatía.

Este estudio demuestra que la AES-C mide mas de una dimensión. Sin embargo, el factor principal, la subescala de la Apatía, puede usarse para evaluar la apatía en pacientes con un primer episodio de psicosis con el fin de refinar la evalaución de los subdominios del síndrome negativo.

It is unclear whether an early detection programme increases or decreases the number of patients with a long duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), and whether these differ from other patients with a long DUP.

To investigate whether the number and characteristics of patients with a long DUP in the early detection programme differ from those with along DUP in the non-earlydetection programme.

We compared the number and characteristics of patients with a DUP $2 years in an early detection area and a non-early detection area.

The early detection programme recruited slightly fewer patients with a long DUP than the non-early detection programme. The patients in the early detection programme had lower PANSS scores, but more frequently had a deteriorating course of premorbid social functioning.

An early detection programme does not seem to drain a pool of previously undetected patients with a long DUP. The patients in the early detection programme seem to have a lower symptom level at baseline and to have had a deteriorating premorbid social course.

Early detection programmes aim to reduce the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) by public education and by prompt access to treatment via active outreach detection teams.

To determine whether those with first-episode psychosis in an early detection healthcare area with existing referral channels differ from those who access care via detection teams.

Those with first-episode psychosis recruited via detection teams were compared with those accessing treatment via conventional channels, at baseline and after 3 months of acute treatment.

Patients recruited via detection teams are younger males with a longer DUP a less dramatic symptom picture and better functioning; however they recover more slowly, and have more symptoms at 3-month follow-up.

After establishing low threshold active case-seeking detection teams, we found clear differences between those patients entering treatment via detection teams v. those obtaining treatment via the usual channels. Such profiling may be informative for early detection service development.

Knowledge about premorbid development in psychosis can shed light upon theories about aetiology and schizophrenic heterogeneity, and form a basis for early detection initiatives.

To identify and validate patterns of premorbid functioning in first-episode psychosis.

The Premorbid Adjustment Scale was used to examine 335 patients.

Social and academic function constituted fairly independent dimensions. Cluster analysis identified groups varying both in level and course. Patients with a stable social course compared with a deteriorating one had a shorter duration of untreated psychosis, were older, had more friends and less negative symptoms. Good childhood academic function correlated with more education, more meaningful activities and better working memory. Patients with a stable academic course were older at admission.

Patterns of premorbid development suggest both neuro-developmental and neuroregressive pathways to illness.