RT Journal Article
T1 Clinical and treatment predictors of relapse during a three-year follow-up of a cohort of first episodes of schizophrenia.
A1 Bioque, Miquel
A1 Mezquida, Gisela
A1 Amoretti, Sílvia
A1 Garcia-Rizo, Clemente
A1 Lopez-Ilundain, Jose M
A1 Diaz-Caneja, Covadonga M
A1 Zorrilla, Iñaki
A1 Mane, Anna
A1 Rodriguez-Jimenez, Roberto
A1 Corripio, Iluminada
A1 Pomarol-Clotet, Edith
A1 Ibañez, Angela
A1 Usall, Judith
A1 Contreras, Fernando
A1 Mas, Sergi
A1 Vazquez-Bourgon, Javier
A1 Cuesta, Manuel J
A1 Parellada, Mara
A1 Gonzalez-Pinto, Ana
A1 Hidalgo-Figueroa, Maria
A1 Bernardo, Miquel
K1 Antipsychotics
K1 Cannabis
K1 First-episode psychosis
K1 Relapses
K1 Schizophrenia
K1 Second episodes
AB Relapses are frequent in the first years following a first episode of schizophrenia (FES), being associated with a higher risk of developing a chronic psychotic disorder, and poor clinical and functional outcomes. The identification and intervention over factors associated with relapses in these early phases are timely and relevant. In this study, 119 patients in remission after a FES were closely followed over three years. Participants came from the 2EPS Project, a coordinated, naturalistic, longitudinal study of 15 tertiary centers in Spain. Sociodemographic, clinical, treatment and substance abuse data were analyzed. 49.6% of the participants relapsed during the 3-years follow-up. None of the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics analyzed showed a statistically significant association with relapses. 22% of patients that finished the follow-up without relapsing were not taking any antipsychotic. The group that relapsed presented higher mean antipsychotics doses (381.93 vs. 242.29 mg of chlorpromazine equivalent/day, p = 0.028) and higher rates of antipsychotic polytherapy (28.6% vs. 13%, p  < 0.001), benzodiazepines use (30.8% vs. 8.5%, p < 0.001), side effects reports (39.2% vs. 25%, p = 0.022), psychological treatment (51.8% vs. 33.9%, p = 0.03), and cannabis consumption (93.2% vs. 56.7%, p < 0.001). Clozapine use was notably higher in the group that reminded in remission (21.7% vs. 8.2%, p < 0.019). These findings may guide clinicians to detect subgroups of patients with higher risk to present a second episode of psychosis, focusing on measures to ensure an adequate treatment or facilitating cannabis use cessation. This study supports future research to identify relapse prevention strategies for patients in early phases of schizophrenia. 
PB Elsevier
YR 2022
FD 2022-02-17
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/22508
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/22508
LA en
NO Bioque M, Mezquida G, Amoretti S, García-Rizo C, López-Ilundain JM, Diaz-Caneja CM, et al. Clinical and treatment predictors of relapse during a three-year follow-up of a cohort of first episodes of schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2022 May;243:32-42
DS RISalud
RD Apr 18, 2025