Ten-year employment patterns of patients with first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: comparison of early intervention and standard care services

Productivity costs of schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders by friction cost and human capital methods: The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966

PURPOSE

Psychotic disorders are associated with substantial productivity costs; however no previous studies have compared these between schizophrenia spectrum (SSD) and other psychotic disorders (OP). The human capital method (HCM) and the friction cost method (FCM) are the two most common approaches to assess productivity costs. The HCM focuses on employees' perspectives on the costs, whereas the FCM demonstrates employers' perspectives. Studies comparing these methods when estimating the productivity costs of psychoses are lacking.

METHODS

Utilizing the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 with linkages to national registers, we compared the adjusted productivity costs of SSD (n = 216) and OP (n = 217). The productivity costs were estimated from ages 18 to 53 including projections to statutory retirement age using the FCM and HCM.

RESULTS

When estimated via the HCM, productivity losses were higher for SSD (€193,940) than for OP (€163,080). However, when assessed using the FCM, costs were significantly lower for SSD (€2,720) than for OP (€4,430). Productivity costs varied by sex and various clinical and occupational factors.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights how productivity costs vary by psychosis diagnosis. These differences should be noted when planning interventions. The low FCM estimates indicate the need of interventions before or during the early phases of psychoses. From a societal perspective, interventions are needed, particularly for those with highest HCM productivity losses, such as males with SSD. Besides psychiatric services, the roles of social services, employment agencies and occupational health care should be considered when helping individuals with psychoses to working life.

Employment trajectories until midlife in schizophrenia and other psychoses: the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966

PURPOSE

Psychoses are associated with poor labour market attachment, but few studies have compared schizophrenia (SZ) and other psychoses (OP). Moreover, studies on long-term employment trajectories over individuals' working life courses are lacking. We compared 30 year employment trajectory patterns in a general population sample among individuals with SZ, OP, and those with no psychosis (NP).

METHODS

Utilising the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, we collected survey data on employment from ages 16 to 45 and detected individuals with register-based history of SZ (n = 62), OP (n = 87), or NP (n = 6464) until age 46. Through gender-specific latent class analyses on annual employment roles, we identified traditional, highly educated, self-employed, delayed and floundering employment trajectories with distinct socioeconomic characteristics. We addressed attrition by conducting weighted analyses.

RESULTS

Floundering trajectories were common among individuals with SZ (79% of men, 73% of women) and OP (52% of men, 51% of women). In NP, a traditional employee trajectory was most common in men (31%), and a highly educated trajectory in women (28%). A history of psychosis was associated with heightened odds ratios (ORs; 95% confidence intervals (CIs)) for floundering trajectories in both men (SZ: 32.9 (13.3-81.4); OP: 7.4 (4.0-13.9)) and women (SZ: 9.9 (4.6-21.5); OP: 3.9 (2.1-7.1)) compared to NP. Weighted analyses produced similar results.

CONCLUSION

Most individuals with SZ or OP have floundering employee trajectories reflecting an elevated risk of unemployment and part-time work until midlife. These results indicate the importance of improving labour market attachment during the early phases of psychoses.

Longitudinal relapse pattern of patients with first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and its predictors and outcomes: A 10-year follow-up study

OBJECTIVE

This study explored the 10-year pattern of relapse of patients with first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (FES), predictors and outcomes of early and late relapse.

METHODS

Patients received EIS (N = 148) in Hong Kong between 1 July 2001 and 30 June 2002 were matched with those who entered standard care (N = 148) one year before. Relapse information over 10 years were obtained and 209 patients were interviewed at 10-year follow-up. Predictors of early relapse ([ER] relapse in initial three years) and late relapse group ([LR] relapse in year 4-10) and their differential outcomes were explored.

RESULTS

Fifty-six patients (26.8%) were relapse-free over 10 years with more EIS patients. Among the relapsed patients, 63.6% were ER patients who had the poorest longitudinal outcomes, including higher suicide attempts, violence episodes, more hospitalization and lower employment, whereas the LR patients do not differ much from the no relapse group. Relapse-free patients required less hospitalization in the first episode and lower antipsychotic dosage. The LR patients had less positive symptoms in year one but longer first-episode hospitalization and higher antipsychotic dosage.

CONCLUSIONS

Delaying the first relapse may help to improve the long-term outcomes. Good response to antipsychotic medications was associated with relapse-free over long-term. However, sufficient antipsychotic medications with good symptomatic control during the early stage of the illness is crucial for relapse prevention for other patients. These findings highlight illness heterogeneity and the importance in differential use of antipsychotics in relapse prevention.

The predictive power of expressed emotion and its components in relapse of schizophrenia: a meta-analysis and meta-regression

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia is a longstanding condition and most patients experience multiple relapse in the course of the condition. High expressed emotion (HEE) has been found to be a predictor of relapse. This meta-analysis and meta-regression examined the association of global EE and relapse specifically focusing on timing of relapse and EE domains.

METHODS

Random-effects model was used to pool the effect estimates. Multiple random-effects meta-regression was used to compute the moderator analysis. Putative effect moderators including culture, EE measurements, age, length of condition and study quality were included.

RESULTS

Thirty-three prospective cohort studies comprising 2284 patients were included in the descriptive review and 30 studies were included for meta-analysis and meta-regression. Findings revealed that global HEE significantly predicted more on early relapse (⩽12 months) [OR 4.87 (95% CI 3.22-7.36)] than that on late relapse (>12 months) [OR 2.13 (95% CI 1.36-3.35)]. Higher level of critical comments (CC) significantly predicted relapse [OR 2.22 (95% CI 1.16-4.26)], whereas higher level of warmth significantly protected patients from relapse [OR 0.35 (95% CI 0.15-0.85)]. None of the moderators included significantly change the results.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that there is a dynamic interaction between EE-relapse association with time, and CC and warmth are the two important EE domains to influence relapse among patients with schizophrenia. Results also confirmed the foci of family interventions on reducing CC and improving warmth in relationship.

Predictors of Treatment-Resistant and Clozapine-Resistant Schizophrenia: A 12-Year Follow-up Study of First-Episode Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorders

Studies on the long-term development and early predictors of treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) and clozapine-resistant TRS (CR-TRS) in patients with first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (FES) are limited and have not considered the impact of early intervention services (EIS). This study aimed to explore the development of TRS and CR-TRS among patients with FES over 12 years of follow-up. Of the 1234 patients with FES, 15% developed TRS. A total of 450 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were included in a nested case-control study (157 TRS and 293 non-TRS). Younger age of onset, poorer premorbid social adjustment during adulthood, longer duration of first episode, a greater number of relapses, and a higher antipsychotic dose in the first 24 months were associated with earlier TRS. CR-TRS patients, constituting 25% of TRS patients, had a poorer premorbid social adjustment in late adolescence and longer delay before clozapine initiation compared with non-CR-TRS. CR-TRS had poorer clinical and functional outcomes at 12-year follow-up. However, TRS patients on clozapine had a lower mortality rate compared with non-TRS patients. EIS did not have a significant impact on the development of TRS, but patients in the EIS group had a shorter delay of clozapine initiation. Results suggested that neurodevelopmental factors, early clinical characteristics, and requirement for higher antipsychotic dose may be associated with TRS development, highlighting multiple pathways leading to this form of illness. Specific interventions including relapse prevention and early initiation of clozapine during the early course of illness may reduce the rate of TRS and improve patient outcomes.

Overview of Stigma against Psychiatric Illnesses and Advancements of Anti-Stigma Activities in Six Asian Societies

Background: In psychiatry, stigma is an attitude of disapproval towards people with mental illnesses. Psychiatric disorders are common in Asia but some Asians receive inadequate treatment. Previous review found that Asians with mental illness were perceived to be dangerous and aggressive. There is a need for renewed efforts to understand stigma and strategies which can effectively reduce stigma in specific Asian societies. The objective of this systematic review was to provide an up-to-date overview of existing research and status on stigma experienced by psychiatric patients and anti-stigma campaigns in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Korea, and Thailand. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the following databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, Web of Science, and local databases. Studies published in English and the official language of included countries/territories were considered for inclusion in the systematic review. Any article on stigma related to any form of psychiatric illness in the six Asian societies was included. Results: One hundred and twenty-three articles were included for this systematic review. This review has six major findings. Firstly, Asians with mental illnesses were considered as dangerous and aggressive, especially patients suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; second, psychiatric illnesses in Asian societies were less socially-acceptable and were viewed as being personal weaknesses; third, stigma experienced by family members was pervasive and this is known as family stigma; fourth, this systemic review reported more initiatives to handle stigma in Asian societies than a decade ago; fifth, there have been initiatives to treat psychiatric patients in the community; and sixth, the role of supernatural and religious approaches to psychiatric illness was not prevailing. Conclusion: This systematic review provides an overview of the available scientific evidence that points to areas of needed intervention to reduce and ultimately eliminate inequities in mental health in Asia.

Employment-Related Factors of Forensic Psychiatric Outpatients with Psychotic Disorders

PURPOSE

Employment is important for forensic psychiatric patients with psychotic disorders, in terms of reduction in symptoms, improving the quality of life, and preventing re-offenses. However, few detailed studies on employment status in such patients exist. We aimed to determine the employment rate among forensic psychiatric outpatients with psychotic disorders and identify the factors associated with employment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study population comprised 406 patients with psychotic disorders who completed a forensic outpatient treatment order, were aged <65 years at discharge from a forensic psychiatric ward and provided written informed consent. Psychotic disorders were defined as psychiatric disorders classified into F2 in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th edition. Demographic data were collected from the medical records of the inpatient treatment period. Prognostic data during the outpatient treatment order period was provided by the reintegration coordinators responsible for coordinating the patients' social environment during this period. Exploratory univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses identified the factors associated with employment.

RESULTS

The mean age at discharge was 44.4±10.8 years. The mean follow-up period was 2.69±1.01 years. There were 4.6 times more men (n=334) than women (n=72). During the outpatient treatment order period, 56 of 406 participants achieved employment (13.8%). Participants who committed serious crime, including homicide, arson, robbery, and sexual assault, had a lower employment rate compared to participants who committed bodily injury crimes (multivariable odds ratio, 0.421; 95% confidence interval, 0.220-0.807). History of substance use and living with family after discharge from a forensic psychiatric ward positively contributed to employment.

CONCLUSION

The employment rate among forensic psychiatric outpatients with psychotic disorders was low and was similar to that reported in previous studies on general psychiatric patients with schizophrenia. Furthermore, serious criminal behavior negatively impacted employment.