Continued Early Intervention for Recent-onset Schizophrenia

Continued Early Intervention for Recent-onset Schizophrenia. A Randomized Controlled Study.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether outreach integrated treatment of first episode schizophrenia was more effecive than standard outpatient treatment.

Early intervention for schizophrenia has spawned considerable enthusiasm among clinicians without solid research evidence to suport its benefits and costs. The present study is a random-controlled study of integrated biomedical and psychosocial treatment on a population of recent-onset cases.

Comparison(s): 50 consecutive referrals with schizophrenic disorders of less than two years duration were allocated randomly to a comprehensive model of integrated treatment or standard care for two years. Main outcome measures was psychopathology, psychosocial functioning and hospital admissions.

Inclusion Criteria:

• first-episode schizophrenia

Exclusion Criteria:

• acute psychosis