Changes in the diagnosed incidence of early onset schizophrenia over four decades.

OBJECTIVE: To explore changes in the diagnosed incidence of early onset schizophrenia (EOS) from 1971 to 2010. METHOD: Examination of incidence rates of schizophrenia in patients under 18 years of age, using a nationwide, population-based, mental health register. RESULTS: The age-standardized incidence rate (IR) of EOS in the period 1971-2010 was 3.17 (95% CI: 3.16, 3.18) per 100 000 person years in the age group 0-18 years, and 9.10 (95% CI: 9.00, 9.21) in the age group 12-18 years. In the period 1971-1993, the age-standardized IR of EOS was 1.80 (95% CI: 1.79, 1.82) per 100 000 person years in the age group 0-18 years, and 5.02 (95% CI: 4.92, 5.11) in the age group 12-18 years. In the period 1994-2010, the age-standardized IR of EOS was 5.15 (95% CI: 5.10, 5.20) per 100 000 person years in the age group 0-18 years, and 15.73 (95% CI: 15.22, 16.22) in the age group 12-18 years. The IR was higher for males than females in the periods 1971-1993 and 1971-2010, but in the period 1994-2010 the IR was higher for females than males. CONCLUSION: In recent years, the diagnosed incidence of EOS has increased and the usual male excess has disappeared. The changes in IR could be a result of changes in the diagnostic system, increased awareness of early psychosis or a reflection of actual underlying incidence of the disorder.

The CHALLENGE trial: the effects of a virtual reality-assisted exposure therapy for persistent auditory hallucinations versus supportive counselling in people with psychosis: study protocol for a randomised clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Many patients suffering from schizophrenia spectrum disorders continue having distressing auditory hallucinations in spite of treatment with antipsychotic medication. The aim of this trial is to examine the effect of a targeted virtual reality therapy for persistent auditory hallucinations in individuals with psychosis. The trial explores whether this type of therapy can decrease the severity, frequency and distress of auditory hallucinations and, additionally, whether it can reduce clinical symptoms and enhance daily functioning in individuals with psychosis. METHODS: The study is a randomised, assessor-blinded parallel-group superiority clinical trial, allocating a total of 266 patients to either the experimental intervention or supportive counselling. The participants will be randomised to either (1) seven sessions of virtual reality therapy or (2) seven sessions of supportive counselling to be delivered within the first 12 weeks after inclusion in the study. All participants will be assessed at baseline and 12 and 24 weeks post-baseline. Independent assessors blinded to the treatment allocation will evaluate the outcome. The primary outcome is the level of auditory hallucinations measured with the Psychotic Symptoms Rating Scales (PSYRATS-AH) total score at the cessation of treatment at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes are frequency of auditory hallucinations, the distress caused by auditory hallucinations, perceived voice power, patient acceptance of voices, patients' ability to respond to voices in an assertive way and social and daily function. DISCUSSION: Promising evidence of the efficacy of this immersive virtual reality-based therapy for auditory hallucinations exist, but evidence needs to be established in a large, methodological rigorous trial. If the therapy proves to be beneficial in reducing the severity of refractory auditory hallucinations, a large group of patients with schizophrenia and related disorders could be the target group of this short-term psychotherapeutic intervention.