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Prospective outcome of early intervention for individuals at ultra‐high‐risk for psychosis
Author(s) -
Shim GeumSook,
Kang DoHyung,
Choi JungSeok,
Jung Myung Hun,
Kwon Soo Jin,
Jang Go Eun,
Kwon Jun Soo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
early intervention in psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.087
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1751-7893
pISSN - 1751-7885
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-7893.2008.00089.x
Subject(s) - psychosis , tolerability , prodrome , at risk mental state , anxiety , antipsychotic , psychiatry , adverse effect , depression (economics) , medicine , confidence interval , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , prospective cohort study , psychology , economics , macroeconomics
Aim: Based on previous reports of second‐generation antipsychotic agents having a beneficial effect on prodromal symptoms, we investigated the effectiveness and tolerability of atypical antipsychotic therapies in individuals at high risk for developing psychosis. Methods: We examined prodromal symptoms and functioning in individuals at ultra‐high‐risk for psychosis using an uncontrolled prospective design with pre‐ and post‐treatment measures. Results: Of the 27 subjects taking antipsychotics during the study period, 15 took part in at least one follow‐up assessment. Overall Com prehensive Assessment of At‐Risk Mental States scores significantly improved at the last evaluation point, with a medium‐size effect of Cohen's d = 0.54 (95% confidence interval, −0.02 to 1.08) (mean follow‐up period = 8.8; SD = 8.3 months). Depression and anxiety symptoms were markedly reduced, and global and social functioning also significantly improved. Of the 27 subjects, two (7.4%) converted to psychosis and 16 (59.3%) experienced at least one treatment‐emergent adverse event, but no subjects exhibited serious adverse events. Conclusions: The results of this study support treating high‐risk individuals with antipsychotics to reduce prodromal symptoms with adequate safety.