Incidence of stressful life events and influence of sociodemographic and clinical variables on the onset of first-episode psychosis. (30th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Butjosa, Anna; Gómez-Benito, Juana; Huerta-Ramos, Elena; Del cacho, Núria; Barajas, Ana; Baños, Iris; Usall, Judith; Dolz, Montserrat; Sánchez, Bernardo; Carlson, Janina; Maria Haro, Josep; Ochoa, Susana
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 245(2016)
• Page Start: 108
• Page End: 115
• Publication Date: 2016-11-30
• Subjects: SLEs stressful life events -- FEP first-episode psychosis; Life events -- Family history -- Age at onset -- Gender -- First-episode psychosis -- Psychotic symptoms; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.08.030
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: This study presents a quantitative analysis of the incidence of stressful life events (SLEs) and the variables gender, age at onset, family history and psychotic symptoms in patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP). A descriptive, cross-sectional methodology was used to interview 68 patients with FEP between 13 and 47 years of age. The Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Interview Life Events Scale collected one-year period prior to onset of FEP – used to analyse the subcategories academic, work, love and marriage, children, residence, legal affairs, finances and social activities -, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia scale were used to assess the relevance of certain SLEs during adolescence. Age at onset showed a significant negative correlation with the categories academic and social activities . By contrast, it showed a positive correlation with work and children . A significant relationship was found between paternal family history and social activities and between maternal family history and academic and love and marriage . Finally, an inverse relationship was observed between negative symptoms and the categories children and finance . Depressive symptoms were significantly correlated with the category academic . Our results show the importance of SLEs during adolescence and suggest that there is a clear need to develop preventive actions that promote effective strategies for dealing with the accumulation of psychosocial stress. Highlights: There is a high incidence of stressful life events (SLEs) in first-episode psychosis (FEP). There are more life events with a maternal/paternal family history of FEP. Age at onset and psychotic symptoms were associated with the presence of SLEs. Detailed analyses of SLEs are vital, as they have a clear connection with adolescence. The importance to develop preventive actions for dealing with the accumulation of SLEs.