Sustainability of treatment effect of a 3-year early intervention programme for first-episode psychosis.

Abstract

<b>Background</b>Evidence indicates that the positive effects of 2-year early intervention services for psychosis are not maintained after service withdrawal. Optimal duration of early intervention in sustaining initial improved outcomes remains to be determined.<b>Aims</b>To examine the sustainability of the positive effects of an extended, 3-year, early intervention programme for patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) after transition to standard care.<b>Method</b>A total of 160 patients, who had received a 2-year early intervention programme for FEP, were enrolled to a 12-month randomised-controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01202357) comparing a 1-year extension of the early intervention (3-year specialised treatment) with step-down care (2-year specialised treatment). Participants were followed up and reassessed 2 and 3 years after inclusion to the trial.<b>Results</b>There were no significant differences between the treatment groups in outcomes on functioning, symptom severity and service use during the post-trial follow-up period.<b>Conclusions</b>The therapeutic benefits achieved by the extended, 3-year early intervention were not sustainable after termination of the specialised service.