Duration of untreated illness as a key to early intervention in schizophrenia: A review

DUI and DUP are multidimensional constructs that imply both intrinsic, illness related (e.g. subtle symptoms at onset) and extrinsic factors (e.g. access to mental health services), so that from its study sprouted in the last decades First-Episode Units, aimed at providing secondary prevention in SCZ such as providing a timely diagnosis and treatment to patients experiencing their first psychotic episode. Early intervention seems to ensure a shortened DUP, especially for people presenting with brief limited intermittent psychotic symptoms, and, ultimately, ensure a more favorable prognosis for patients affected by SCZ.