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. 2025 Apr 17;11(1):66.
doi: 10.1038/s41537-025-00598-x.

PSYSCAN multi-centre study: baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of the clinical high risk for psychosis sample

Stefania Tognin #  1   2 , Sandra Vieira #  1   3   4 , Dominic Oliver  5   6   7 , Alexis E Cullen  8 , Mathew J Kempton  1 , Paolo Fusar-Poli  1   9   10   11 , Andrea Mechelli  1 , Paola Dazzan  12 , Kate Merritt  1   13 , Arija Maat  14 , Lieuwe de Haan  15 , Stephen M Lawrie  16 , Thérèse van Amelsvoort  17   18 , Celso Arango  19   20 , Barnaby Nelson  21   22 , Silvana Galderisi  23 , Rodrigo Bressan  24 , Jun Soo Kwon  25 , Romina Mizrahi  26 ; PSYSCAN Consortium; Rene S Kahn  13   27 , Philip McGuire  5   6   7
Collaborators, Affiliations

PSYSCAN multi-centre study: baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of the clinical high risk for psychosis sample

Stefania Tognin et al. Schizophrenia (Heidelb). .

Abstract

Predicting outcomes in individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) of developing psychosis remains challenging using clinical metrics alone. The PSYSCAN project aimed to enhance predictive value by integrating data across clinical, environmental, neuroimaging, cognitive, and peripheral blood biomarkers. PSYSCAN employed a naturalistic, prospective design across 12 sites (Europe, Australia, Asia, Americas). Assessments were conducted at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months, with follow-ups at 18 and 24 months to evaluate clinical and functional outcomes. The study included 238 CHR individuals and 134 healthy controls (HC). At baseline, CHR and HC groups differed significantly in age, education, IQ, and vocational and relationship status. Cannabis and tobacco use did not significantly differ between groups, however CHR individuals had higher proportion of moderate to high risk of tobacco abuse. A substantial portion of the CHR sample met DSM criteria for anxiety (53.4%) and/or mood disorders (52.9%), with some prescribed antidepressants (38.7%), antipsychotics (13.9%), or benzodiazepines (16.4%). Over the follow-up period, 25 CHR individuals (10.5%) transitioned to psychosis. However, the CHR group as a whole showed improvements in functioning and attenuated psychotic symptoms. Similar to other recent multi-centre studies, the CHR cohort exhibits high comorbidity rates and relatively low psychosis transition rates. These findings highlight the clinical heterogeneity within CHR populations and suggest that outcomes extend beyond psychosis onset, reinforcing the need for broader prognostic models that consider functional and transdiagnostic outcomes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: C.A. has been a consultant to or has received honoraria or grants from Abbot, Acadia, Ambrosetti, Angelini, Biogen, Boehringer, Gedeon Richter, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck, Medscape, Menarini, Minerva, Otsuka, Pfizer, Roche, Sage, Servier, Shire, Schering Plough, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma, Sunovion, Takeda and Teva. SG received compensation for serving as a consultant or speaker, or she or the institutions she works for have received research support from the companies or organizations indicated: Angelini, Gedeon Richter-Recordati, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck Italia, Medscape, Takeda, Rovi and Boehringer Ingelheim. All other authors have no competing interest to report.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Number of HC and CHR recruited per site.
Percentage of the total HC and CHR samples recruited at each site are presented above each bar.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Distribution of CAARMS and SPI-A subgroups.
Distribution of CAARMS and SPI-A subgroups. Left: Distribution of CAARMS subgroups: Attenuated Psychotic Symptoms, GDR, Genetic and Deterioration Syndrome, Brief Limited Intermittent Psychotic Symptoms. Right: Distribution of inclusion criteria.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Greenwood 95% confidence intervals showing cumulative probability of developing a psychotic disorder in the entire CHR group (left) and stratified by source of follow-up: psychometric assessment with the CAARMS or electronic health records (EHR) (right).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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