The analysis of treatment outcomes in admitted schizophrenia patients, as a factor of their duration of untreated psychosis, while in a psychiatric emergency service
Poster B84, Friday, October 21, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Le Baron
Hana Hasegawa1, Saki Hattori2, Naoya Sugiyama1, Yusuke Fukuda3; 1MD,PhD; Numazu-chuo Hospital, 2MD;Yokohama-City University, School of Medicine, 3MD,PhD; Numazu-chuo Hospital, 4Prof.;Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze treatment outcomes in schizophrenia patients, as a factor of their duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), while in a psychiatric emergency service. Knowledge of how a patient’s DUP can affect their treatment course will progress psychological education and prevent treatment interruptions. Methods: A total of 63 admitted schizophrenia patients (30 males: 33 females) were obtained consents during 6 years. Average patient age was 43.73±12.77 years. We used information from the clinical indicator database which includes patients’ demographic factors. We collected DUP and duration of untreated illness (DUI) from consenting patients’ medical records, then analyzed demographic factors and hospital treatment outcomes according to each patient’s DUP. Also we evaluated the DUP requiring police intervention at admission. Statistics were performed via T-tests and chi-squared tests using SPSS version 23. This study adequately conformed to ethical requirements and was approved by the hospital’s ethics committee. Results: The average DUP was 21.11±45.45 months, and the median DUP was 3 months. Patients with a longer DUP (>3 months) showed the following significant differences compared to those with a shorter DUP (<3 months): (1) longer admission period in an emergency service, (2) longer DUI, and (3) more frequent treatment interruptions. The patient required police intervention, their average DUP was “ultra-long” at 53.27 months. Conclusions: Patients with a longer DUP tended to interrupt their treatment, indicating that more effort should be made to prevent these interruptions. This information should be incorporated into psychological education in order to promote prognosis.
Topic Area: Psychosis NOS