Incidence of treated first episode psychosis from an Australian early intervention service and its association with neighbourhood characteristics

Shaping tomorrow's support: baseline clinical characteristics predict later social functioning and quality of life in schizophrenia spectrum disorder

PURPOSE

We aimed to explore the multidimensional nature of social inclusion (mSI) among patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD), and to identify the predictors of 3-year mSI and the mSI prediction using traditional and data-driven approaches.

METHODS

We used the baseline and 3-year follow-up data of 1119 patients from the Genetic Risk and Outcome in Psychosis (GROUP) cohort in the Netherlands. The outcome mSI was defined as clusters derived from combined analyses of thirteen subscales from the Social Functioning Scale and the brief version of World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaires through K-means clustering. Prediction models were built through multinomial logistic regression (ModelMLR) and random forest (ModelRF), internally validated via bootstrapping and compared by accuracy and the discriminability of mSI subgroups.

RESULTS

We identified five mSI subgroups: "very low (social functioning)/very low (quality of life)" (8.58%), "low/low" (12.87%), "high/low" (49.24%), "medium/high" (18.05%), and "high/high" (11.26%). The mSI was robustly predicted by a genetic predisposition for SSD, premorbid adjustment, positive, negative, and depressive symptoms, number of met needs, and baseline satisfaction with the environment and social life. The ModelRF (61.61% [54.90%, 68.01%]; P =0.013) was cautiously considered outperform the ModelMLR (59.16% [55.75%, 62.58%]; P =0.994).

CONCLUSION

We introduced and distinguished meaningful subgroups of mSI, which were modestly predictable from baseline clinical characteristics. A possibility for early prediction of mSI at the clinical stage may unlock the potential for faster and more impactful social support that is specifically tailored to the unique characteristics of the mSI subgroup to which a given patient belongs.

The Role of Social Deprivation and Cannabis Use in Explaining Variation in the Incidence of Psychotic Disorders: Findings From the EU-GEI Study

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

Recent findings suggest the incidence of first-episode psychotic disorders (FEP) varies according to setting-level deprivation and cannabis use, but these factors have not been investigated together. We hypothesized deprivation would be more strongly associated with variation in FEP incidence than the prevalence of daily or high-potency cannabis use between settings.

STUDY DESIGN

We used incidence data in people aged 18-64 years from 14 settings of the EU-GEI study. We estimated the prevalence of daily and high-potency cannabis use in controls as a proxy for usage in the population at-risk; multiple imputations by chained equations and poststratification weighting handled missing data and control representativeness, respectively. We modeled FEP incidence in random intercepts negative binomial regression models to investigate associations with the prevalence of cannabis use in controls, unemployment, and owner-occupancy in each setting, controlling for population density, age, sex, and migrant/ethnic group.

STUDY RESULTS

Lower owner-occupancy was independently associated with increased FEP (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR]: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.61-0.95) and non-affective psychosis incidence (aIRR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.55-0.83), after multivariable adjustment. Prevalence of daily cannabis use in controls was associated with the incidence of affective psychoses (aIRR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.02-2.31). We found no association between FEP incidence and unemployment or high-potency cannabis use prevalence. Sensitivity analyses supported these findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower setting-level owner-occupancy and increased prevalence of daily cannabis use in controls independently contributed to setting-level variance in the incidence of different psychotic disorders. Public health interventions that reduce exposure to these harmful environmental factors could lower the population-level burden of psychotic disorders.

Identifying and managing treatment resistance early with the integration of a clozapine clinic within an early intervention for psychosis service

BACKGROUND

Despite being the most effective antipsychotic medication for treatment-resistant psychosis, clozapine is often under-utilized with long delays to initiation.

AIMS

This study aimed to determine whether the integration of a clozapine clinic within an early intervention for psychosis service resulted in a change in the rate and time to initiation of clozapine, the number of trials of different antipsychotic medications prior to clozapine, community initiation and discontinuation rates.

METHODS

A clozapine clinic was established in the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre in Melbourne. This was a pre- and post-evaluation study design. The 'clozapine clinic' cohort included those who commenced on clozapine from 01 January 2016 to 30 June 2018.

RESULTS

Prior to the clozapine clinic, 24 young people commenced clozapine over the 30-month period compared to 36 in the clozapine clinic cohort (RR = 1.30, 95% CI: 0.75-2.28, p = .32). In the pre-clozapine clinic cohort, 4.6% of all those with a first episode of psychosis were commenced on clozapine compared to 6% in the clozapine clinic cohort. Prior to the clozapine clinic, the median time to the commencement of clozapine was 72 weeks (IQR: 38, 87), compared to 53.5 weeks (IQR: 38, 81.5) in the clozapine clinic (Z = -0.86, p = .393). The mean number of different antipsychotic medications prior to commencing clozapine remained stable at 3.2 (SD ± 1.1) in both cohorts (t = -0.20, p = .841). There was a lower rate of discontinuation in the clozapine clinic (43.5% vs. 14.7%, HR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.09-0.98, p = .046).

CONCLUSIONS

While this study was underpowered and there are limitations to the naturalistic study design, the findings lend support to the integration of a clozapine clinic within early intervention for psychosis services.

Comprehensive spatial distribution of patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) and its relation to socio-economic factors

BACKGROUND

The functional-cognitive impact of first-episode psychosis (FEP) is extremely relevant and implies dysfunction from early life stages like adolescence and youth. Like other illnesses, FEP incidence is also influenced by environmental factors. It is necessary to attend to this age group with early interventions and to act on the environmental factors that the literature correlates with increased FEP incidence: socio-economic aspects, social adversity, bullying at school or cannabis use. In this context, identifying the areas of cities where FEP patients concentrate is important to perform early interventions. The spatial analysis of patient distribution in a whole city is one way to identify the most vulnerable areas and to propose psycho-social interventions for the possible prevention and/or early detection of FEP by improving urban mental health.

METHODS

An epidemiological study of point patterns to determine the areas of a city with a higher incidence of patients with FEP. To do so, the addresses of FEP cases were georeferenced from 1 January 2016 to 31 October 2022, and 109 FEP patients were analysed. Data from a random sample of 383 controls, comprising their addresses, age, and sex, were randomly obtained from the official city council database. By GIS, the areas with higher FEP incidence were analysed to see if they coincided with the zones where inhabitants with lower incomes lived.

RESULTS

The risk ratio of the FEP patients was compatible with the constant risk ratio in Albacete (p = 0.22). When performing the process separately with cases and controls only in men and women, the results were not significant for both distributions (p value: 0.12 and 0.57, respectively). Nonetheless, areas within the city had a significantly higher risk. These groups of cases coincided with those who had lower income and more inequality for women, but this pattern was not clear for men.

CONCLUSIONS

Classifying city areas per income can help to determine the zones at higher risk of FEP, which would allow early healthcare and preventive measures for these zones.

Urbanization and psychosis: an update of recent evidence

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Urbanization, a complex global phenomenon, has a significant bearing on schizophrenia/psychosis burden through various socioeconomic and environmental factors. This review focuses on recent evidence (2019-2023) linking urbanization, schizophrenia, and the role of green space.

RECENT FINDINGS

This review analyzed 43 articles that examined the correlation between urban birth or upbringing, urban living (urbanicity), and various schizophrenia/psychosis-related outcomes such as incidence, psychotic experiences, etc. The studies showed differing results across geographical locations. Socioeconomic factors like area deprivation, migrant status (ethnic density) and social fragmentation were independently associated with the risk of schizophrenia/psychosis irrespective of urbanicity. More recently, environmental factors such as green space reduction and air pollution have been explored in urban living conditions and were positively associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia/psychosis.

SUMMARY

There is a need for further investigation in low and middle-income countries. The impact of urbanization-related factors and green space on the risk of schizophrenia/psychosis calls for appropriate governmental commitments toward structured and healthy urban planning.

Urbanicity and psychotic disorders: Facts and hypotheses

In the present qualitative literature review, we summarise data on psychotic disorders and urbanicity, focusing particularly on recent findings. Longitudinal studies of the impact of urbanicity on the risk for psychotic disorders have consistently shown a significant association, with a relative risk between 2 and 2.5. However, most of the original studies were conducted in Western Europe, and no incidence studies were conducted in low- and middle-income countries. European studies suggest that neighbourhood-level social fragmentation and social capital may partly explain this association. Exposure to air pollution (positive association) and green space (negative association) may also be part of the explanation, but to date, available data do not make it possible to conclude if they act independently from urbanicity, or as part of the effect of urbanicity on psychotic disorders. Finally, several studies have consistently shown significant associations between the polygenic risk score for schizophrenia and urbanicity, with several possible explanations (pleiotropic effects, results of prodromic symptoms, or selection/intergenerational hypothesis). Thus, more studies are needed to understand the factors that explain the association between urbanicity and the risk of psychotic disorders. Further studies should account for the interdependence and/or interactions of different psychosocial and physical exposures (as well as gene-environment interactions), and explore this association in low- and middle-income countries.

Discharge destinations for young people with a first episode of psychosis after attending an early intervention for psychosis service

OBJECTIVE

Early intervention for psychosis services result in superior outcomes in the domains of symptomatic and functional recovery, hospitalisation and employment compared to standard services; however, the optimal duration of care with these services is unknown. Knowledge on the discharge destinations, specifically the proportion discharged to high- and low-intensity services, could provide insights into the proportion of who may require a longer tenure of care. This study aimed to determine (1) the discharge destinations from early intervention for psychosis services and (2) baseline and intra-episode factors associated with discharge to the secondary care/adult mental health service.

METHODOLOGY

This study was conducted at the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre in Melbourne and included all young people treated by the service with a first episode of psychosis over a 6-year period. Discharge destinations were categorised according to high-intensity services, namely, secondary mental health care, or lower intensity services, such as private practitioners or primary care.

RESULTS

A total of 1101 young people with a first episode of psychosis were included in the study, of whom 58.8% were male and the median age was 20.0 years (interquartile range: 17-22). After a median of 95.4 weeks (interquartile range: 66.7-105.7), 36.6% were discharged to the adult mental health services, which was associated with being not in employment, education or training at presentation (odds ratio = 1.71, 95% confidence interval [1.23, 2.37]); experiencing a relapse (odds ratio = 1.76, 95% confidence interval [1.24, 2.49]); and being admitted to a mental health unit (odds ratio = 3.98, 95% confidence interval [2.61, 6.09]). Young people who lived with their parents were less likely to be discharged to secondary care services (odds ratio = 0.52, 95% confidence interval [0.37, 0.73]), as were those who were achieving symptomatic remission within 12 weeks (odds ratio = 0.60, 95% confidence interval [0.43, 0.83]). Migrant status and the duration of untreated psychosis were not associated with discharge destination.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that there is a sizable, identifiable minority who may benefit from a longer episode of care with early intervention for psychosis services.

Social disadvantage in early psychosis and its effect on clinical presentation and service access, engagement and use

Incidence of psychosis varies geographically due to factors such as social disadvantage. Whether this influences the clinical presentation and/or engagement of those experiencing psychosis remains relatively understudied. This study analysed data from young people across Australia accessing ultra-high risk (UHR) or first episode psychosis (FEP) services delivered through the headspace Early Psychosis (hEP) program between June 2017 and March 2021. The cohort was categorised into low, middle, and high tertiles of social disadvantage using the Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage (IRSD). Data from 3089 participants aged 15-25 were included (1515 UHR, 1574 FEP). The low and middle tertiles for both cohorts had greater percentages of those not in education or employment (NEET), with First Nations or culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Clinical presentations to services were similar across all tertiles in both cohorts, however, functioning at presentation varied significantly within the FEP cohort. Significantly lower numbers of direct services were provided in the low tertile of both cohorts, with significantly poorer engagement in the initial three-months also occurring for these young people. This variation in early psychosis service patterns associated with geographical variation in social deprivation demonstrates the need for further research and fine tuning of national early psychosis services.

Neighbourhood characteristics and the treated incidence rate of borderline personality pathology among young people

OBJECTIVE

The impact of the wider social environment, such as neighbourhood characteristics, has not been examined in the development of borderline personality disorder. This study aimed to determine whether the treated incidence rate of full-threshold borderline personality disorder and sub-threshold borderline personality disorder, collectively termed borderline personality pathology, was associated with the specific neighbourhood characteristics of social deprivation and social fragmentation.

METHOD

This study included young people, aged 15-24 years, who attended Orygen's Helping Young People Early programme, a specialist early intervention service for young people with borderline personality pathology, from 1 August 2000-1 February 2008. Diagnoses were confirmed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders, and census data from 2006 were used to determine the at-risk population and to obtain measures of social deprivation and fragmentation.

RESULTS

The study included 282 young people, of these 78.0% (n = 220) were female and the mean age was 18.3 years (SD = ±2.7). A total of 42.9% (n = 121) met criteria for full-threshold borderline personality disorder, and 57.1% (n = 161) had sub-threshold borderline personality disorder, defined as having three or four of the nine Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV) borderline personality disorder criteria. There was more than a sixfold increase in the treated incidence rate of borderline personality pathology in the neighbourhoods of above average deprivation (Quartile 3) (incidence rate ratio = 6.45, 95% confidence interval: [4.62, 8.98], p < 0.001), and this was consistent in the borderline personality disorder sub-groups. This association was also present in the most socially deprived neighbourhood (Quartile 4) (incidence rate ratio = 1.63, 95% confidence interval: [1.10, 2.44]), however, only for those with sub-threshold borderline personality disorder. The treated incidence of borderline personality pathology increased incrementally with the level of social fragmentation (Quartile 3: incidence rate ratio = 1.93, 95% confidence interval: [1.37, 2.72], Quartile 4: incidence rate ratio = 2.38, 95% confidence interval: [1.77, 3.21]).

CONCLUSION

Borderline personality pathology has a higher treated incidence in the more socially deprived and fragmented neighbourhoods. These findings have implications for funding and location of clinical services for young people with borderline personality pathology. Prospective, longitudinal studies should examine neighbourhood characteristics as potential aetiological factors for borderline personality pathology.

The association between social deprivation and the rate of identification of individuals at Ultra-High Risk for psychosis and transition to psychosis

BACKGROUND

There is a higher incidence of psychotic disorders in neighbourhoods of greater social deprivation. However, it is not known whether this represents a causal relationship, as the stage at which social deprivation exerts its influence on the development of psychotic disorders is yet to be elucidated. We aimed to investigate the association between neighbourhood-level social deprivation and the rate of identification of individuals at Ultra-High Risk for psychosis (UHR), as well as the risk of transition to psychosis in UHR individuals.

METHODS

The cohort included all young people aged 15 to 24 identified as UHR attending an Early Intervention clinic in northwestern Melbourne over a 5-year period (2012-2016). Australian census data were used to obtain the at-risk population and social deprivation information according to the postcode of residence. Levels of social deprivation were arranged into quartiles. Poisson regression was used to calculate rate ratios and Cox regression analysis determined hazard ratios.

RESULTS

Of the 461 young people identified as UHR, 11.1% (n = 49) lived in the most affluent neighbourhoods (Quartile 1) compared to 36.7% (n = 162) in the most deprived neighbourhoods (Quartile 4). There was a 35% higher rate of identification of young people who were UHR from the most deprived neighbourhoods (aIRR = 1.35, 95% CI [0.98, 1.86]). Over a median follow-up of approximately 10 months (308 days (IQR: 188-557), 17.5% (n = 77) were known to have transitioned to a full-threshold psychotic disorder. Residing in a neighbourhood of above average deprivation had a hazard ratio of 2.05 (95% CI [0.88, 4.80]) for risk of transition, when controlling for age, sex and substance use.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide more support that EI services should be funded as per the expected incidence of psychotic disorders.

Pathways to care for first-generation migrants with first episode psychosis in northwestern metropolitan Melbourne

OBJECTIVE

Understanding the pathways to care for migrants experiencing a first episode of psychosis is important, as they are more likely to experience longer delays to treatment and negative experiences, such as involuntary treatment. Despite the increased risk of developing a psychotic illness and barriers associated with pathways to care, there are limited studies exploring pathways to care in migrants in Australia. This study seeks to examine pathways to care for young people with a first episode of psychosis to a publicly funded youth mental health service.

METHODS

This study included all young people aged 15-24 years who presented with a first episode of psychosis to the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) between 1 February 2011 and 31 December 2016. Referral sources and place of birth were recorded at the time of presentation. The severity of psychotic symptoms was rated at baseline.

RESULTS

A total of 1220 young people presented with a first episode of psychosis during the study period, including 293 (24.5%) first-generation migrants. First-generation migrants with a first episode of psychosis were more likely to be admitted to hospital than Australian-born youth (odds ratio = 1.67, 95% confidence interval = [1.27, 2.18], p < 0.001) and this remained significant when controlled for demographic (adjusted odds ratio = 1.41, 95% confidence interval = [1.07, 1.88], p = 0.016) and clinical factors (adjusted odds ratio = 1.38,95% confidence interval = [1.01, 1.89], p = 0.044). First-generation migrants were also more likely to have an involuntary admission (odds ratio = 1.67, 95% confidence interval = [1.26, 2.21], p < 0.001) and this remained significant when controlled for demographic (adjusted odds ratio = 1.42, 95% confidence interval = [1.05, 1.91], p = 0.022) and clinical factors (adjusted odds ratio = 1.50, 95% confidence interval = [1.08, 2.09], p = 0.017). Migrants had more severe delusions (p = 0.005), bizarre behavior (p < 0.001) and positive formal thought disorder (p = 0.003) at the time of presentation. Migrants were also more likely to attend the emergency department during their presentation with first episode of psychosis (odds ratio = 1.76, 95% confidence interval = [1.31, 2.36], p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

First-generation migrants who develop a psychotic disorder are at greater risk of experiencing negative pathways to care than the Australian-born population. Further research is needed to identify the factors that lead to migrants being involuntarily admitted to hospital for first episode of psychosis.

Incidence of treated first-episode psychosis amongst Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal youth in the Top End of the Northern Territory, Australia

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to estimate the incidence rate of first episode of psychosis (FEP) in the Top End of the Northern Territory (NT), exploring how rates vary by age, sex, Aboriginal status and remoteness.

METHOD

Youths (ages 15-24) presenting with FEP to the two specialist mental health services in the Top End were identified through audit of the electronic health records between 2014-2018. Population demographic data were collected from the 2016 Australian National Census. Statistical analysis estimated variation in incidence rates by age, sex, Aboriginal status and remoteness.

RESULTS

A total of 236 youths with FEP were included in the study. The overall incidence rate was 174 per 100,000 person-years. Rates were very high in the Aboriginal (331 per 100,000 person-years) and remote populations (308 per 100,000 person-years), and lower in the non-Aboriginal population (85 per 100,000 person-years).

CONCLUSION

This study shows high rates of FEP in young people in the Top End, attributable to very high rates in the Aboriginal population, many of whom live in remote areas. Resources should be allocated to support this high-risk group.

The incidence and admission rate for first-episode psychosis in young people before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Melbourne, Australia

OBJECTIVE

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on global mental health, with one-third of infected individuals developing a psychiatric or neurological disorder 6 months after infection. The risk of infection and the associated restrictions introduced to reduce the spread of the virus have also impacted help-seeking behaviours. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether there was a difference during the COVID-19 pandemic in the treated incidence of psychotic disorders and rates of admission to hospital for psychosis (including involuntary admission).

METHODS

Incident cases of first-episode psychosis in young people, aged 15 to 24, at an early intervention service in Melbourne from an 8-month period before the pandemic were compared with rates during the pandemic. Hospital admission rates for these periods were also compared.

RESULTS

Before the pandemic, the annual incidence of first-episode psychosis was 104.5 cases per 100,000 at-risk population, and during the pandemic it was 121.9 (incidence rate ratio = 1.14, 95% confidence interval = [0.92, 1.42], p = 0.24). Immediately after the implementation of restrictions, there was a non-significant reduction in the treated incidence (incidence rate ratio = 0.80, 95% confidence interval = [0.58, 1.09]), which was followed by a significant increase in the treated incidence in later months (incidence rate ratio = 1.94, 95% confidence interval = [1.52, 2.49]; incidence rate ratio = 1.64, 95% confidence interval = [1.25, 2.16]). Before the pandemic, 37.3% of young people with first-episode psychosis were admitted to hospital, compared to 61.7% during the pandemic (odds ratio = 2.71, 95% confidence interval = [1.73, 4.24]). Concerning the legal status of the admissions, before the pandemic, 27.3% were admitted involuntarily to hospital, compared to 42.5% during the pandemic (odds ratio = 1.97, 95% confidence interval = [1.23, 3.14]).

CONCLUSION

There was a mild increase, which did not reach statistical significance, in the overall incidence of first-episode psychosis; however, the pattern of presentations changed significantly, with nearly twice as many cases presenting in the later months of the restrictions. There was a significant increase in both voluntary and involuntary admissions, and the possible explanations for these findings are discussed.

Proportion and characteristics of young people in a first-episode psychosis clinic who first attended an at-risk mental state service or other specialist youth mental health service

BACKGROUND

Services for young people identified as having an 'at-risk mental state' (ARMS) aim to prevent transition to first-episode psychosis (FEP), in addition, early intervention services for other mental health disorders have also been developed. The aim of the current study was to determine the proportion of young people attending a specialist FEP service who had been referred via other early intervention clinics, including an ARMS clinic, and compare the characteristics to those who presented directly to the FEP service.

METHODS

We included young people diagnosed with FEP who received treatment at Orygen between 01.01.2012 and 31.12.2016. We examined rates of direct entry to the First Episode Psychosis service and rates from other early intervention services, specifically ARMS, personality disorders, mood disorders and a primary care youth mental health service clinics.

RESULTS

1138 young people were diagnosed with a FEP, of whom 13.7% first attended an ARMS clinic and a further 7.6% attended other youth mental health services. Individuals who first presented to an ARMS clinic were more likely to be female, younger, and less likely to be migrants or use substances. Rates of both voluntary and involuntary hospital admissions were significantly reduced for young people who transitioned from the ARMS clinic, the personality disorder clinic or the primary care service compared to those who presented directly with FEP.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant proportion of young people with FEP initially attended another specialist youth mental health service, and importantly, they had much lower rates of hospital admission at the time of transition to FEP.

Association between residential instability at individual and area levels and future psychosis in adolescents at clinical high risk from the North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study (NAPLS) consortium

OBJECTIVE

Accumulating evidence supports an association between residential instability and increased risk for psychosis, but the association between residential instability and conversion to psychosis among adolescents at clinical high risk (CHR) is unclear. In this study, we determined whether individual-level and area-level residential instability and their interaction are associated with conversion to psychosis within two years.

METHODS

Data were collected as part of the North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study Phase 2. Individual-level residential instability, defined as having ever moved during lifetime, was derived from the Life Events Scale. Area-level residential instability, defined as the percentage of people who were not living in the same house five years ago, was derived from the U.S. Decennial Censuses.

RESULTS

This study included 285 adolescents at CHR (including 36 subjects who later converted to full psychosis). We found that individual-level residential instability was associated with conversion (adjusted OR = 2.769; 95% CI = 1.037-7.393). The interaction between individual-level and area-level residential instability was significant (p = 0.030). In a subgroup of CHR participants who have never moved (n = 91), area-level residential instability during childhood was associated with conversion (adjusted OR = 1.231; 95% CI = 1.029-1.473). Conversely, in a subgroup of CHR participants who resided in residentially stable areas during childhood (n = 142), the association between individual-level residential instability and conversion remained significant (adjusted OR = 15.171; 95% CI = 1.753-131.305).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that individual-level and area-level residential instability may be associated with conversion to psychosis.

Symptomatic, functional and service utilization outcomes of migrants with a first episode of psychosis

BACKGROUND

Certain migrant groups have been identified as being at increased risk of developing a psychotic disorder, but there is limited research on the outcomes for migrants who develop a first episode of psychosis (FEP). We investigated symptomatic outcomes (remission and relapse rates), functional outcomes (occupational status and relationships) and service utilization (hospital admission and engagement).

METHODS

Young people, aged between 15 and 24, who presented with FEP to the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) at Orygen between 01.01.11 and 31.12.16 were included. Place of birth was recorded at the time of presentation. To determine remission, symptoms were scored at three-month intervals using the short-form Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms.

RESULTS

A total of 1220 young people presented with FEP over the six-year period (mean age = 19.6 ± 2.8). Of these, 58.1% were male and 24.0% were first-generation migrants. While there was no difference in overall rates of admission after presentation, migrants were more likely to have an involuntary admission after presentation (31.4% vs. 24.6%, aHR = 1.54, 95% CI [1.19, 2.01]) and this risk was greatest for African migrants (HR = 1.98, 95% C.I. [1.37, 2.86]. The rates of remission and relapse were similar in migrants and those born in Australia and there was no difference in functional outcomes, such as employment rates at follow-up.

DISCUSSION

The outcomes for migrants who experience FEP appear to be largely similar to those for the Australian-born population. Our finding that a greater rate of involuntary admission for migrants at presentation supports existing literature and needs further exploration to improve clinical care.

Temporal variation in the incidence of treated psychotic disorders in young people

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of psychotic disorders varies between geographical areas, however less is known about whether it varies over time in the same region. Analyzing this temporal variation of incidence could improve the allocation of healthcare resources and our understanding of the aetiology of psychotic disorders. This study aimed to determine whether there was a change in the incidence of psychotic disorders over a six-year period.

METHODS

Young people aged 15 to 24 presenting with a first episode of psychosis (FEP) attending an early intervention service in Melbourne between 2011 and 2016 were included. The population at-risk was determined from the two corresponding census periods and analyses were adjusted for age, sex and migrant status.

RESULTS

A total of 1217 young people presented with a FEP over the six-year period and the crude incidence rate in 2011 was 102.4 per 100,000 population at-risk, compared to 125.4 in 2016. There was an increase in the incidence by 33% in 2015 (aIRR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.09-1.63) and 28% in 2016 (aIRR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.05-1.56). When examined according to diagnostic groups, there was an increase in the incidence of substance-induced psychotic disorders among females in 2015 (aIRR = 4.62, 95% CI 1.02-20.8).

DISCUSSION

This study shows significant temporal variations in the incidence of treated psychotic disorders. These findings demonstrate that early intervention services should continually monitor incidence case numbers and funding should be provided accordingly, to ensure the required intensive and comprehensive treatments can be sustained.

Risk of psychotic disorders in migrants to Australia

BACKGROUND

Certain migrant groups are at an increased risk of psychotic disorders compared to the native-born population; however, research to date has mainly been conducted in Europe. Less is known about whether migrants to other countries, with different histories and patterns of migration, such as Australia, are at an increased risk for developing a psychotic disorder. We tested this for first-generation migrants in Melbourne, Victoria.

METHODS

This study included all young people aged 15-24 years, residing in a geographically-defined catchment area of north western Melbourne who presented with a first episode of psychosis (FEP) to the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2016. Data pertaining to the at-risk population were obtained from the Australian 2011 Census and incidence rate ratios were calculated and adjusted for age, sex and social deprivation.

RESULTS

In total, 1220 young people presented with an FEP during the 6-year study period, of whom 24.5% were first-generation migrants. We found an increased risk for developing psychotic disorder in migrants from the following regions: Central and West Africa (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] = 3.53, 95% CI 1.58-7.92), Southern and Eastern Africa (aIRR = 3.06, 95% CI 1.99-4.70) and North Africa (aIRR = 5.03, 95% CI 3.26-7.76). Migrants from maritime South East Asia (aIRR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.23-0.65), China (aIRR = 0.25, 95% CI 0.13-0.48) and Southern Asia (aIRR = 0.44, 95% CI 0.26-0.76) had a decreased risk for developing a psychotic disorder.

CONCLUSION

This clear health inequality needs to be addressed by sufficient funding and accessible mental health services for more vulnerable groups. Further research is needed to determine why migrants have an increased risk for developing psychotic disorders.

How does neighbourhood socio-economic status affect the interrelationships between functioning dimensions in first episode of psychosis? A network analysis approach

The links between psychosis and socio-economic disadvantage have been widely studied. No previous study has analysed the interrelationships and mutual influences between functioning dimensions in first episode of psychosis (FEP) according to their neighbourhood household income, using a multidimensional and transdiagnostic perspective. 170 patients and 129 controls, participants in an observational study (AGES-CM), comprised the study sample. The WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) was used to assess functioning, whereas participants' postcodes were used to obtain the average household income for each neighbourhood, collected by the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE). Network analyses were conducted with the aim of defining the interrelationships between the different dimensions of functioning according to the neighbourhood household income. Our results show that lower neighbourhood socioeconomic level is associated with lower functioning in patients with FEP. Moreover, our findings suggest that "household responsibilities" plays a central role in the disability of patients who live in low-income neighbourhoods, whereas "dealing with strangers" is the most important node in the network of patients who live in high-income neighbourhoods. These results could help to personalize treatments, by allowing the identification of potential functioning areas to be prioritized in the treatment of FEP according to the patient's neighbourhood characteristics.

Neighborhood-level predictors of age at onset and duration of untreated psychosis in first-episode psychotic disorders

OBJECTIVE

Recent years have witnessed growing interest in the role of the social environment in the development and outcomes of schizophrenia. We investigated whether neighborhood characteristics are associated with two important prognostic factors in early-course psychosis, age at onset of psychosis (AOP) and duration of untreated psychosis (DUP).

METHODS

Data were collected from patients admitted to the hospital for first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorder. We collected data on perceived neighborhood disorder during childhood/adolescence and extracted data on 13 neighborhood characteristics from the American Community Survey based upon individual addresses. Four neighborhood-level factors were derived from factor analysis. Multiple logistic regression analyses assessed the association between specific neighborhood characteristics and the two prognostic factors (earlier AOP and longer DUP) in early-course psychosis.

RESULTS

143 participants had valid addresses geo-coded. Neighborhood-level residential instability was associated with an earlier AOP (OR = 1.760; p = 0.022) even after controlling for known risk factors (OR = 2.026; p = 0.020) and also after controlling for individual-level residential instability (OR = 1.917; p = 0.037). The general socioeconomic status neighborhood factor (OR = 1.119; p = 0.019) and perceived neighborhood disorder (OR = 1.075; p = 0.005) were associated with a longer DUP. But only perceived neighborhood disorder (OR = 1.146; p = 0.011) remained significant, and general socioeconomic status was close to significant (OR = 1.215; p = 0.062), after controlling for individual-level predictors and socioeconomic status.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found evidence that neighborhood-level characteristics (in this case, residential instability) may be associated with earlier AOP, and perceptions of neighborhood disorder are associated with a longer treatment delay. Socioenvironmental factors should be more consistently considered going forward in research on early psychotic disorders.

Physical health trajectories of young people commenced on clozapine

OBJECTIVES

Clozapine is the most effective antipsychotic medication, but it has the highest propensity for metabolic side effects. A clozapine clinic was established within an early intervention for psychosis service to facilitate the timely commencement of clozapine and to manage the associated adverse effects. This study describes the changes in the weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and blood pressure after 6 months in young people commenced on clozapine.

METHOD

This was a prospective cohort study of all young people, aged 15-24 years, commenced on clozapine within an early intervention service in Melbourne, Australia, between 01.04.2016 and 30.06.2018. Continuous data were analyzed with paired t-test and categorical with Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

RESULTS

Twenty-six young people received 6 months of treatment with clozapine, of whom the mean age was 19.8 years (s.d. ±3.1) and 66.7% were male. After 6 months, the mean weight gain was 5.1 kg (s.d. ±10.1 kg) and over half (53.8%) gained clinically significant weight. The proportion of young people classified as either overweight or obese rose from 69.2% to 88.5% (p = 0.006). The proportion of young people with a waist circumference above the recommended parameters increased from 57.9% to 78.9% (p = 0.008). Hypertension was present in 30%, and after 6 months, 45% had hypertension (p = 0.64). Metformin was prescribed to 34.6%, typically to those with the greatest and most rapid weight gain.

CONCLUSION

Among young people with treatment resistant psychosis, clozapine is associated with significant metabolic side effects in the early stages of commencement. More interventions aimed at attenuating this weight gain are needed.