Past research has found that people diagnosed with “schizophrenia” have significantly higher mortality rates than the general population, often due to co-occurring medical issues including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and suicide. In fact, research conducted in the UK has demonstrated that the mortality gap between the general population and individuals diagnosed with bipolar and schizophrenia is widening. Intervention and treatment efforts have shifted to early intervention programs which have demonstrated improved outcomes including a reduction in suicide risk.
However, the authors of this study point out that the “United States has been slower to focus on early intervention” which has resulted in a lack of knowledge regarding how persons who have experienced a first-episode of psychosis utilize treatment. To fill this gap, the authors of the present study looked at longitudinal patterns of outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, emergency room visits, and mortality rates in a national cohort of individuals who had experienced a first-episode of psychosis.
Individuals with an inpatient, emergency, or outpatient visit that had received a diagnosis of schizophrenia, brief psychotic disorder, or psychotic disorder not otherwise specified (NOS) between the ages of 16-30 were identified. Information was gathered on mortality within a year of receiving a psychosis diagnosis, use of pharmacotherapy, and health service use including outpatient, inpatient, and emergency care.
A total of 1357 individuals were included. 85% of patients were under 25 years of age when they received the initial psychosis diagnosis and 61% of those included were male.