How successful are first episode programs? A review of the evidence for specialized assertive early intervention.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: It has been hypothesized that the first 5 years after first episode of psychosis are a critical period with opportunities for ameliorating the course of illness. On the basis of this rationale, specialized assertive early intervention services were developed. We wanted to investigate the evidence basis for such interventions. RECENT FINDINGS: The evidence for the effectiveness of specialized assertive early intervention services is mainly based on one large randomized clinical trial, the OPUS trial, but it is supported by the findings in smaller trials, such as the Lambeth Early Onset trial, the Croydon Outreach and Assertive Support Team trial and the Norwegian site of Optimal Treatment trial. There are positive effects on psychotic and negative symptoms, on substance abuse and user satisfaction, but the clinical effects are not sustainable when patients are transferred to standard treatment. However, the positive effects on service use and ability to live independently seem to be durable. SUMMARY: Implementation of specialized assertive early intervention services is recommended, but the evidence basis needs to be strengthened through replication in large high-quality trials. Recommendation regarding the duration of treatment must await results of ongoing trials comparing 2 years of intervention with extended treatment periods.

Transition rates from schizotypal disorder to psychotic disorder for first-contact patients included in the OPUS trial. A randomized clinical trial of integrated treatment and standard treatment.

BACKGROUND: Only a few randomized clinical trials have tested the effect on transition rates of intervention programs for patients with sub-threshold psychosis-like symptoms. AIM: To examine whether integrated treatment reduced transition to psychosis for first-contact patients diagnosed with schizotypal disorder. METHODS: Seventy-nine patients were randomized to integrated treatment or standard treatment. Survival analysis with multivariate Cox-regression was used to identify factors determinant for transition to psychotic disorder. RESULTS: In the multivariate model, male gender increased risk for transition to psychotic disorder (relative risk=4.47, (confidence interval 1.30-15.33)), while integrated treatment reduced the risk (relative risk=0.36 (confidence interval 0.16-0.85)). At two-year follow-up, the proportion diagnosed with a psychotic disorder was 25.0% for patients randomized to integrated treatment compared to 48.3% for patients randomized to standard treatment. CONCLUSION: Integrated treatment postponed or inhibited onset of psychosis in significantly more cases than standard treatment.