Assessing adolescent preference in the treatment of first‐episode psychosis and psychosis risk. Issue 3 (19th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Welsh, Patrick; Tiffin, Paul A.
• Is Part Of: Early intervention in psychiatry. Volume 8:Issue 3(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 281
• Page End: 285
• Publication Date: 2013-07-19
• Subjects: Mental health -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Research -- Periodicals; Mental illness -- Prevention -- Research -- Periodicals; Mental illness -- Treatment -- Research -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1111/eip.12077
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-7885

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="eip12077-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>The objective of this study was to investigate the treatment preferences of adolescents with a first‐episode psychosis (FEP) or at‐risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis.</p> </sec> <sec id="eip12077-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A questionnaire was distributed to all adolescents (12–18 years) within an early intervention in psychosis service based in North‐East England, during a 3‐month period.</p> </sec> <sec id="eip12077-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Forty eligible young people responded (53% response rate). The majority of FEP and ARMS participants endorsed psychoeducational material as the most popular treatment choice (36/40; 90%) from the interventions described. Participants with FEP indicated a significant preference for using antipsychotic medications over their ARMS counterparts (75% vs. 25%).</p> </sec> <sec id="eip12077-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>These findings support the use of psychoeducational interventions (both groups) and antipsychotic medication in adolescent FEP (as opposed to ARMS) patient groups, albeit in a small sample requiring replication. This study indicates that the generation of future treatment guidelines and the allocation of clinical resources should be informed by patient preference where possible.</p> </sec> </abstract>