Duration of untreated psychosis and untreated illness and their effect on clinical presentation in first episode psychosis

A large sum of research and clinical interest has been given to the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and duration of untreated illness (DUI) regarding their implications in disease severity, type and persistence of symptoms, response to treatment and outcome. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of these two variables on the psychotic symptoms present in a sample of patients with first episode psychosis (n= 137). Methods: The DUP and DUI were measured for each patient according to definitions. The premorbid functioning of patients of the study was assessed using the Premorbid Adjustment Scale (PAS) and their clinical state at interview was estimated using the Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI). Results: DUP was positively and significantly correlated only to unusual thought content and was negatively and significantly correlated to blunted affect. DUI was positively and significantly correlated only to conceptual disorganization and CGI of the patients. There were no significant correlations between either DUP or DUI and any of the adopted parameters of premorbid functioning in this study. Conclusion: Longer duration of untreated psychosis or duration of untreated illness is limitedly associated with worse clinical presentation of patients. In addition, worse premorbid functioning is not associated with longer DUP or DUI.