Early premorbid adjustment as a moderator of the impact of duration of untreated psychosis

ObjectivesShorter duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is often correlated with a poorer response to treatment. In this paper we test the hypothesis that the importance of DUP is moderated by early premorbid adjustment.MethodThree year prospective data were collected for 154 first episode patients. DUP, premorbid adjustment and symptoms were assessed at time of presentation for treatment and symptoms were reassessed after three years of treatment.ResultsDUP was correlated with level of symptoms at three years only for patients with better premorbid adjustment in childhood and early adolescence.ConclusionsThese results suggest that DUP may have more of an impact on treatment response for those with a less pernicious, more reversible form of illness.