Abstract
Patients at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR) are a highly heterogeneous group in terms of clinical and functional outcomes. Several non-psychotic mental disorders co-occur together with the UHR state. Little is known about the impact of non-psychotic comorbid mental disorders on clinical and functional outcomes of UHR patients.
Methods:The sample included 154 UHR help-seeking patients (identified with the CAARMS, Comprehensive Assessment of the At-Risk Mental State), evaluated at baseline on the Ham-D, Ham-A (Hamilton Depression/Anxiety Rating Scale), and PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale). 74 patients completed the 6-year follow-up assessment (mean=6.19, SD=1.87). Comorbid disorders at follow-up were assessed with the SCID I and II. Global functioning was rated on the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale.
Results:In the present sample, 6-year risk of psychosis transition was 28.4%. Among non-transitioned UHR patients, 28.3% reported Attenuated Psychotic Symptoms (APS) and 45.3% remained functionally impaired at follow-up (Global Assessment of Functioning, GAF < 60). 56.8% patients were affected by at least one comorbid disorder at follow-up. Among UHR patients who presented with some comorbid disorder at baseline, 61.5% had persistent or recurrent course. Incident comorbid disorders emerged in 45.4% of baseline UHR patients. The persistence or recurrence of non-psychotic comorbid mental disorders was associated with poorer global functional outcomes at follow-up.
Limitations:A substantial proportion of the initial sample was not available for follow-up interviews and some groups in the analyses had small sample size. Predictors of longitudinal outcomes were not explored.
Conclusions:Among UHR patients, persistence or recurrence of non-psychotic comorbid mental disorders, mostly affective disorders, is associated with 6-year poor functional outcomes.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 101-110 |
Journal | Journal of Affective Disorders |
Volume | 203 |
Early online date | 31 May 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 2016 |