Outcome study of first-episode psychosis. I: Relapse rates after 1 year

Abstract

One-year relapse rates were assessed in a group of 64 patients diagnosed by Research Diagnostic Criteria who were hospitalized for their first psychotic episode. Life-table analysis showed that of the 51 remitted patients, 71.4% of the schizophrenic patients (N = 20), 71.4% of patients with affective disorders (N = 10), and 77.8% of patients diagnosed as having either unspecified functional psychosis or other psychiatric disorder (N = 7) remained in remission at 1-year follow-up. Factors associated with relapse or poor outcome (patients who remained in episode) included no maintenance medication, longer duration of illness, and premorbid asociality.