A new study shows that early treatment of psychosis considerably reduces the risk of death in patients.
Researchers at the Lawson Health Research Institute, Western University, and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) have found that programs that specialize in the early management of psychosis can dramatically reduce patient mortality rates.
The study, published inAmerican Journal of Psychiatry, was based on the state of health of psychotic patients treated under the Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses (PEPP) between 1997 and 2013.
Mortality risks divided by four
“A psychotic episode is characterized by delusions and hallucinations, most often accompanied by disorganization of behavior and thought,” said Kelly Anderson, doctor and author of the study. “We have proven that early treatment of psychosis, that is to say from the onset of the first symptoms, has a key role in improving the health of patients over the long term. He continues.
PEPP provides intensive treatment to psychotic patients during the first two to three years of illness. The latter, for example, quickly have their first appointment with a psychiatrist and see their doctor 33.2% times more than patients treated in other services.
Results: fewer involuntary hospitalizations, less 8.7% of emergency room consultations and above all the risk of mortality divided by four! On the other hand, hospitalization rates are higher in patients treated by the PEPP, which the researchers cannot be explained for the moment.
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Previous research has shown that the death rate is at least 24 times higher in a psychotic patient in the first year of illness than in a healthy person. In particular, psychosis triggers dangerous behavior and suicidal urges.
“The results of our study show that PEPP is effective and give clues as to how we could further improve this program,” concludes Dr Kelly Anderson, who hopes to soon be able to expand his research beyond London.
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