Abstract
Background
Proponents of early intervention have argued that outcomes might be improved if more therapeutic efforts were focused on the early stages of schizophrenia or on people with prodromal symptoms. Early intervention in schizophrenia has 2 elements that are distinct from standard care: early detection and phase-specific treatment (phase-specific treatment is a psychological, social, or physical treatment developed, or modified, specifically for use with people at an early stage of the illness).
Early detection and phase-specific treatment may both be offered as supplements to standard care or may be provided through a specialized early intervention team. Early intervention is now well established as a therapeutic approach in America, Europe, and Australasia.
Objectives
To evaluate the effects of: (a) early detection, (b) phase-specific treatments, and (c) specialized early intervention teams in the treatment of people with prodromal symptoms or first-episode psychosis.
Search Methods
We searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group Trials Register (March 2009), inspected reference lists of all identified trials and reviews, and contacted experts in the field.
Selection Criteria
We included all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) designed to prevent progression to psychosis in people showing prodromal symptoms or to improve outcome for people with first-episode psychosis. Eligible interventions, alone and in combination, included: early detection, phase-specific treatments, and care from specialized early intervention teams. We accepted cluster-randomized trials but excluded nonrandomized trials.
Data Collection and Analysis
We reliably selected studies, quality rated them, and extracted data. For dichotomous data, we estimated relative risks (RR), with the 95% CIs. Where possible, we calculated the number needed to treat/harm statistic (NNT/H) and used intention-to-treat analysis.
Results
Studies were diverse, mostly small, undertaken by pioneering researchers and with many methodological limitations (18 RCTs, total n = 1808). Mostly, meta-analyses were inappropriate. For the 6 studies addressing prevention of psychosis for people with prodromal symptoms, olanzapine seemed of little benefit (n = 60, 1 RCT, RR conversion to psychosis 0.58 CI 0.3–1.2) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) equally so (n = 60, 1 RCT, RR conversion to psychosis 0.50 CI 0.2–1.7). A risperidone plus CBT plus specialized team did have benefit over specialist team alone at 6 months (n = 59, 1 RCT, RR conversion to psychosis 0.27 CI 0.1–0.9, NNT 4 CI 2–20), but this was not seen by 12 months (n = 59, 1 RCT, RR 0.54 CI 0.2–1.3). Omega 3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid; EPA) had advantage over placebo (n = 76, 1 RCT, RR transition to psychosis 0.13 CI 0.02–1.0, NNT 6 CI 5–96). We know of no replications of this finding.
The remaining trials aimed to improve outcome in first-episode psychosis. Phase-specific CBT for suicidality seemed to have little effect, but the single study was small (n = 56, 1 RCT, RR suicide 0.81 CI 0.05–12.26). Family therapy plus a specialized team in the Netherlands did not clearly affect relapse (n = 76, RR 1.05 CI 0.4–3.0), but without the specialized team in China, it may (n = 83, 1 RCT, RR admitted to hospital 0.28 CI 0.1–0.6, NNT 3 CI 2–6). The largest and highest quality study compared specialized team with standard care (table 1). Leaving the study early was reduced (n = 547, 1 RCT, RR 0.59 CI 0.4–0.8, NNT 9 CI 6–18) and compliance with treatment improved (n = 507, RR stopped treatment 0.20 CI 0.1–0.4, NNT 9 CI 8–12, figure 1). The mean number of days spent in hospital at 1 year were not significantly different (n = 507, weighted mean difference, −1.39 CI −2.8–0.1), neither were data for “Not hospitalized” by 5 years (n = 547, RR 1.05 CI 0.90–1.2). There were no significant differences in numbers “not living independently” by 1 year (n = 507, RR 0.55 CI 0.3–1.2). At 5 years significantly fewer participants in the treatment group were not living independently (n = 547, RR 0.42 CI 0.21–0.8, NNT 19 CI 14–62). When phase-specific treatment (CBT) was compared with befriending no significant differences emerged in the number of participants being hospitalized over the 12 months (n = 62, 1 RCT, RR 1.08 CI 0.59–1.99).
Proponents of early intervention have argued that outcomes might be improved if more therapeutic efforts were focused on the early stages of schizophrenia or on people with prodromal symptoms. Early intervention in schizophrenia has 2 elements that are distinct from standard care: early detection and phase-specific treatment (phase-specific treatment is a psychological, social, or physical treatment developed, or modified, specifically for use with people at an early stage of the illness).
Early detection and phase-specific treatment may both be offered as supplements to standard care or may be provided through a specialized early intervention team. Early intervention is now well established as a therapeutic approach in America, Europe, and Australasia.
Objectives
To evaluate the effects of: (a) early detection, (b) phase-specific treatments, and (c) specialized early intervention teams in the treatment of people with prodromal symptoms or first-episode psychosis.
Search Methods
We searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group Trials Register (March 2009), inspected reference lists of all identified trials and reviews, and contacted experts in the field.
Selection Criteria
We included all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) designed to prevent progression to psychosis in people showing prodromal symptoms or to improve outcome for people with first-episode psychosis. Eligible interventions, alone and in combination, included: early detection, phase-specific treatments, and care from specialized early intervention teams. We accepted cluster-randomized trials but excluded nonrandomized trials.
Data Collection and Analysis
We reliably selected studies, quality rated them, and extracted data. For dichotomous data, we estimated relative risks (RR), with the 95% CIs. Where possible, we calculated the number needed to treat/harm statistic (NNT/H) and used intention-to-treat analysis.
Results
Studies were diverse, mostly small, undertaken by pioneering researchers and with many methodological limitations (18 RCTs, total n = 1808). Mostly, meta-analyses were inappropriate. For the 6 studies addressing prevention of psychosis for people with prodromal symptoms, olanzapine seemed of little benefit (n = 60, 1 RCT, RR conversion to psychosis 0.58 CI 0.3–1.2) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) equally so (n = 60, 1 RCT, RR conversion to psychosis 0.50 CI 0.2–1.7). A risperidone plus CBT plus specialized team did have benefit over specialist team alone at 6 months (n = 59, 1 RCT, RR conversion to psychosis 0.27 CI 0.1–0.9, NNT 4 CI 2–20), but this was not seen by 12 months (n = 59, 1 RCT, RR 0.54 CI 0.2–1.3). Omega 3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid; EPA) had advantage over placebo (n = 76, 1 RCT, RR transition to psychosis 0.13 CI 0.02–1.0, NNT 6 CI 5–96). We know of no replications of this finding.
The remaining trials aimed to improve outcome in first-episode psychosis. Phase-specific CBT for suicidality seemed to have little effect, but the single study was small (n = 56, 1 RCT, RR suicide 0.81 CI 0.05–12.26). Family therapy plus a specialized team in the Netherlands did not clearly affect relapse (n = 76, RR 1.05 CI 0.4–3.0), but without the specialized team in China, it may (n = 83, 1 RCT, RR admitted to hospital 0.28 CI 0.1–0.6, NNT 3 CI 2–6). The largest and highest quality study compared specialized team with standard care (table 1). Leaving the study early was reduced (n = 547, 1 RCT, RR 0.59 CI 0.4–0.8, NNT 9 CI 6–18) and compliance with treatment improved (n = 507, RR stopped treatment 0.20 CI 0.1–0.4, NNT 9 CI 8–12, figure 1). The mean number of days spent in hospital at 1 year were not significantly different (n = 507, weighted mean difference, −1.39 CI −2.8–0.1), neither were data for “Not hospitalized” by 5 years (n = 547, RR 1.05 CI 0.90–1.2). There were no significant differences in numbers “not living independently” by 1 year (n = 507, RR 0.55 CI 0.3–1.2). At 5 years significantly fewer participants in the treatment group were not living independently (n = 547, RR 0.42 CI 0.21–0.8, NNT 19 CI 14–62). When phase-specific treatment (CBT) was compared with befriending no significant differences emerged in the number of participants being hospitalized over the 12 months (n = 62, 1 RCT, RR 1.08 CI 0.59–1.99).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1111-1114 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Schizophrenia Bulletin |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2011 |
| Externally published | Yes |
