GAPi: A description of the initiative for early psychosis intervention in Latin America and the short- to medium-term outcomes in early psychosis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Schizophrenia is a debilitating disorder that affects a significant proportion of the population and leads to impaired functionality and long-term challenges. The first episode of psychosis (FEP) is a critical intervention stage for improving long-term outcomes. The GAPi program was established in São Paulo, Brazil to provide early intervention services and evaluate biomarkers in individuals with FEP. This article delineates the objectives of the GAPi program, detailing its innovative research protocol, examining the clinical outcomes achieved, and discussing the operational challenges encountered during its initial decade of operation. METHODS: The study comprised a prospective cohort of antipsychotic-naïve individuals with first-episode psychosis aged between 16 and 35 years. Participants were recruited from a public psychiatric facility in São Paulo. Emphasizing the initiative's commitment to early intervention, clinical assessments were systematically conducted at baseline and at two months, one year, two years, and five years of treatment to capture both short- and medium-term outcomes. Various assessment tools were utilized, including structured interviews, symptom scales, the Addiction Severity Index, and functional assessments. RESULTS: A total of 232 patients were enrolled in the cohort. Among them, 65.95 % completed the 2-month follow-up. Most patients presented with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, followed by bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder with psychotic features. Treatment response rates and remission rates were evaluated at different time points, with promising outcomes observed. The program also assessed socio-demographic factors, substance use, family history, and genetic and biomarker profiles, providing valuable data for research. DISCUSSION: The GAPi program has emerged as the largest ongoing cohort of antipsychotic-naïve first-episode psychosis in Latin America, contributing to the understanding of early psychosis in low- and middle-income countries. Despite operational challenges, the program has demonstrated efficacy in reducing the duration of untreated psychosis and in improving clinical outcomes. A multidisciplinary approach, including pharmacological treatment, psychosocial interventions, and family involvement, has been instrumental in enhancing treatment adherence and long-term prognosis. CONCLUSION: The GAPi program represents a valuable model for early intervention in first-episode psychosis and provides insights into the pathophysiology, treatment, and long-term outcomes of individuals with schizophrenia and related disorders. Continued research and resource allocation are essential for addressing operational challenges and expanding early intervention services in low- and middle-income countries.

Impact of duration of untreated psychosis in short-term response to treatment and outcome in antipsychotic naïve first-episode psychosis.

AIM: Duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is one of the few potentially modifiable outcome predictors in psychosis. Previous studies have associated a longer DUP with a poor prognosis, but few of them were performed in countries with low and middle level of income. This study aimed to investigate the DUP in a Brazilian sample of antipsychotic-naïve first-episode psychosis (AN-FEP) patients and its association with clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in a short-term follow-up. METHODS: One hundred forty-five AN-FEP patients between 16 and 40 years were enrolled and were reassessed 10 weeks after risperidone treatment. We investigated the association between DUP and symptom severity, functionality and response to treatment, using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI) and the Global Assessment of Functionality (GAF) scale. DUP was defined as the period between the onset of the first psychotic symptoms and the first effective antipsychotic treatment. For the analysis, we performed multivariate linear regressions. RESULTS: The DUP's median was 61 days. At baseline, we did not find any significant association between DUP and clinical characteristics. After treatment, the longer DUP predicted worse positive and negative symptom dimensions, worse total PANSS, GAF and CGI scores and poorer response to treatment. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that DUP is associated with worse outcomes after short treatment, but it does not modify the baseline clinical profile of the AN-FEP patients. Such results reinforce the need to develop early intervention strategies, reducing DUP.

Cannabis acute use impacts symptoms and functionality in a cohort of antipsychotic naïve First Episode of Psychosis individuals.

INTRODUCTION: Cannabis use increases the risk of developing psychosis, and subjects with psychosis are more likely to use cannabis. However, studies on the influence of cannabis on psychotic dimensions, response to treatment, and functional outcomes showed conflicting results. Such heterogeneity may be due the inclusion of patients who were already under treatment, and lack of specificity in evaluations. We investigated whether cannabis use yields distinct symptom profiles and functionality in a cohort of antipsychotic-naïve patients at first episode of psychosis (FEP). METHODS: This research is part of a prospective cohort study performed in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The baseline assessment was completed by 175 individuals, and 99 of them were reassessed in a ten-week follow up. We investigated the relationship between cannabis exposure variables (acute use, lifetime use and age at first use) and outcomes: symptom dimensions and functioning. RESULTS: Individuals who reported acute use of cannabis had higher excitement symptoms at baseline, higher excitement and positive response rates, but no significant differences at follow-up. Additionally, more days of cannabis use in the last month predicted worse functionality and clinical impression at baseline but not at follow-up. DISCUSSION: The acute use of cannabis influenced the clinical presentation at our FEP baseline assessment, but did not to influence symptoms or functional outcomes at 10-week follow-up. Additionally, acute cannabis users had a better response for excitement and positive symptoms. Higher excitement symptoms at presentation of FEP should raise concerns of possible acute use of cannabis. Longer follow-up times may elucidate whether the effects on functionality would be more evident later in disease development.