Prospective relationship between duration of untreated psychosis and 13-year clinical outcome: a first-episode psychosis study.

Background: The adverse effects of a long duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) have been explored in numerous short-term studies. These studies support the development of early interventions that reduce treatment delay and promote recovery. However, the enduring impact of DUP is largely unknown, partly due to the paucity of prospective long-term studies.

Predicting 1-year risk for relapse in patients who have discontinued or continued quetiapine after remission from first-episode psychosis.

Objective: Relapse is common among patients with psychotic disorders. Identification of relapse predictors is important for decision regarding maintenance medication. Naturalistic studies often identify medication non-adherence as a dominant predictor.

Duration of untreated psychosis: relationship with baseline characteristics and three-year outcome in first-episode psychosis.

Duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) has been considered as one of the few potentially malleable prognostic factors in psychotic illness. The literature demonstrated that prolonged DUP predicted the level of positive symptoms, but its relationships with negative symptoms and functional outcome were less clear-cut. Thus far, most first-episode studies have been conducted in western countries.

Medication adherence and subjective weight perception in patients with first-episode psychotic disorder.

Introduction: Medication adherence is critical to the management of psychotic disorder. Different factors associated with medication adherence have been investigated in previous studies. However, the association with subjective weight perception, which is related to the weight gain side effect of antipsychotics, has not been thoroughly investigated.

Three-year outcome of phase-specific early intervention for first-episode psychosis: a cohort study in Hong Kong.

Aim: Although phase-specific early intervention for first-episode psychosis has been implemented in many different parts of the world, limited medium-term outcome data are available in non-Western populations with relatively low mental health resources. The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of phase-specific early intervention in first-episode psychosis.

Method: In this cohort study, we compared the 3-year outcome of 700 first-episode psychosis patients who received phase-specific early intervention with that of 700 patients matched for age, sex and diagnosis who received standard psychiatric care prior to early intervention.

Gender differences in patients presenting with first-episode psychosis in Hong Kong: a three-year follow up study.

Objective: The aim of the current study was to investigate gender differences with respect to pre-treatment characteristics, clinical presentation, service utilization and functional outcome in patients presenting with first-episode psychosis.

Methods: A total of 700 participants (men, n = 360; women, n = 340) aged 15 to 25 years consecutively enrolled in a territory-wide first-episode psychosis treatment programme in Hong Kong from July 2001 to August 2003 were studied. Baseline and three-year follow up variables were collected via systematic medical file review.

Maintenance treatment with quetiapine versus discontinuation after one year of treatment in patients with remitted first episode psychosis: randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To study rates of relapse in remitted patients with first episode psychosis who either continued or discontinued antipsychotic drugs after at least one year of maintenance treatment.

Design: 12 month randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial.

Setting: Early psychosis outpatient clinics in Hong Kong.

Early intervention for psychosis in Hong Kong--the EASY programme.

Aim: This article aims to describe the Hong Kong experience in developing and implementing an early psychosis programme.

Methods: In 2001, the Early Assessment Service for Young People with Psychosis programme was launched in Hong Kong, providing both educational and service components. Public education includes promotion of timely help-seeking, accessible channels to service and knowledge of psychosis.

Possible olanzapine-induced hepatotoxicity in a young Chinese patient.

We present a case of a 17-year-old man with first-episode schizophrenia who developed olanzapine-induced hepatitis, cholestasis, and splenomegaly, all of which were reversed after ceasing olanzapine. Clinicians prescribing olanzapine should be aware of this possible hepatotoxicity. Patient education, vigilance from clinicians, and careful clinical examination can help detect this complication early.

Evaluation of a psychoeducation program for Chinese clients with schizophrenia and their family caregivers.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a psychoeducation program for Chinese clients with schizophrenia and their family caregivers.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Seventy-three clients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and their caregivers (n=73) were recruited and randomized into a study (n=36) and control group (n=37).