Neurological Signs at the First Psychotic Episode as Correlates of Long-Term Outcome:Results From the AESOP-10 Study

Minor neurological signs are subtle deficits in sensory integration, motor coordination, and sequencing of complex motor acts present in excess in the early stages of psychosis. Still, it remains unclear whether at least some of these signs represent trait or state markers for psychosis and whether they are markers of long-term disease outcome of clinical utility. We examined the relationship between neurological function at illness onset assessed with the Neurological Evaluation Scale and subsequent illness course in 233 patients from AESOP-10 (Aetiology and Ethnicity in Schizophrenia and Other Psychoses), a 10-year follow-up study of a population-based cohort of individuals recruited at the time of their first episode of psychosis in the United Kingdom. In 56 of these patients, we also explored changes in neurological function over time. We included a group of 172 individuals without psychosis as controls. After 10 years, 147 (63%) patients had developed a non-remitting course of illness, and 86 (37%) a remitting course. Already at first presentation, patients who developed a non-remitting course had significantly more primary, motor coordination, and total signs than both remitting patients and healthy controls. While Motor Coordination signs did not change over time, rates of Primary, Sensory Integration, and Total signs increased, independently of illness course type. These findings suggest that motor coordination problems could be a useful early, quick, and easily detectable marker of subsequent clinical outcome. With other motor abnormalities, a measure of motor incoordination could contribute to the identification of the most vulnerable individuals, who could benefit from targeted and more assertive treatment approaches

Continuit\ue0 e aderenza terapeutica nei giovani all\u2019esordio psicotico: il modello di intervento integrato del Servizio Psichiatrico di Bolzano. [Continuity of care and therapeutic adherence in young people at psychosis onset: the integrated intervention model of the Psychiatric Service of Bolzano]

Scopo. Presentare: 1) il percorso di trasformazione del Servizio Psichiatrico di Bolzano verso un assetto organizzativo orientato a un\u2019offerta tempestiva, intensiva, specifica e multimodale per gli utenti all\u2019esordio psicotico e i loro familiari; 2) l\u2019andamento clinico e sociale nel corso di 12 mesi della coorte dei pazienti avviati al progetto \u201cInterventi Precoci\u201d. Metodi. Studio naturalistico longitudinale che valuta l\u2019andamento nel corso di 12 mesi di una coorte di pazienti al primo episodio psicotico, reclutata nell\u2019area di competenza territoriale del Servizio Psichiatrico di Bolzano e avviata al progetto \u201cInterventi Precoci\u201d. Le caratteristiche socio-demografiche, abitative e lavorative, le erogazioni delle prestazioni (intervento medico, psicoterapia, psicoeducazione familiare, intervento sociale) e i ricoveri ospedalieri sono stati ricavati dalla cartella clinica informatizzata. Stato psicopatologico e funzionamento globale sono stati valutati, rispettivamente, con la Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) e la Global Assesment of Functioning (GAF). Risultati. Nei primi cinque anni di attivit\ue0 del progetto (2012-2017) sono stati trattati 116 pazienti. Al follow-up (FU) a 12 mesi, l\u201983,6% risulta in carico, il 7,7% si \ue8 trasferito in altra sede e l\u20198,5% ha abbandonato il percorso. Non risultano differenze di et\ue0 e genere tra pazienti in carico e quelli che hanno interrotto il progetto. Tutti i pazienti hanno usufruito di un trattamento integrato specifico; il 16% ha inoltre usufruito di un trattamento intensivo in regime residenziale. I punteggi PANSS totale, positiva e negativa, hanno registrato una riduzione significativa dal baseline (BL) al FU; parallelamente si \ue8 assistito a un aumento significativo dei punteggi GAF. Solamente il 13,5% \ue8 andato incontro a un ricovero ospedaliero (Servizio Psichiatrico Diagnosi e Cura, SPDC) nel corso di 12 mesi. Al FU il tasso di disoccupazione si riduce del 27,1% e il numero dei pazienti con un\u2019occupazione lavorativa raddoppia rispetto al BL. Discussione e conclusioni. Il progetto \u201cInterventi Precoci\u201d \ue8 risultato in grado di fornire trattamenti integrati, multiprofessionali e tempestivi fin dalle prime fasi del disturbo, secondo quanto raccomandato dalle linee guida internazionali, promuovendo un miglioramento significativo dei pazienti sia sul piano clinico che in termini di funzionamento sociale.Aim: To report on: 1) the modification process occurred within the Psychiatric Service of Bolzano toward an early, intensive, specific and multimodal system of care for patients experiencing their first psychotic episode and their family members; 2) the 12-month clinical and social course of a sample of patients referred to the "Early Intervention Project". Methods: Longitudinal naturalist study evaluating the 12-month clinical and outcome of a cohort of first-episode psychosis patients consecutively referred to the "Early Intervention Project" implemented within the Psychiatric Service of Bolzano. Socio-demographic characteristics, housing situation and occupational status, interventions offered (medical intervention, psychotherapy, psychoeducation to family members, social intervention) and hospital admissions were drawn from electronic medical records. Levels of psychopathology and global functioning were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Global assessment of Functioning (GAF), respectively. Results: During the first five years of activity (2012-2017) 116 patients had been referred to the Project. At 12 months 83.6%were still in charge, 7.76% moved to another area, 8.5% have abandoned the intervention. No significant difference in terms of age and gender was found between patients who remained in the project and those who lost contact. All patients had received specific integrated treatment; moreover, 16% had received intensive residential care. Notably, only 13.5% have had a hospital readmission over the 12 months of intervention. The PANSS total, positive and negative scores displayed significant reduction from baseline (BL) to follow-up (FU); in parallel, increase in GAF score from BL to FU was observed. All patients employed at BL were able to keep their job at FU; 17% of all patients unemployed at baseline were employed at FU. Discussion and conclusion: The "Early Intervention Project" implemented in Bolzano was found to ensure integrated, multidisciplinary and early treatment, as defined by the most recent international guidelines, which produced significant improvement in both clinical and social outcomes in a cohort of first-episode psychosis patients