10 year course of IQ in first-episode psychosis: Relationship between duration of psychosis and long-term intellectual trajectories. Issue 3 (28th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barder, Helene Eidsmo; Sundet, Kjetil; Rund, Bjørn Rishovd; Evensen, Julie; Haahr, Ulrik; ten Velden Hegelstad, Wenche; Joa, Inge; Johannessen, Jan Olav; Langeveld, Johannes; Larsen, Tor Ketil; Melle, Ingrid; Opjordsmoen, Stein; Røssberg, Jan Ivar; Simonsen, Erik; Vaglum, Per; McGlashan, Thomas; Friis, Svein
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 225:Issue 3(2015)
• Page Start: 515
• Page End: 521
• Publication Date: 2015-02-28
• Subjects: Neurocognition -- Psychosis -- Longitudinal -- Subgroups -- Positive symptoms -- WAIS-R; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.11.054
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: A substantial proportion of patients suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSDs) exhibit a general intellectual impairment at illness onset, but the subsequent intellectual course remains unclear. Relationships between accumulated time in psychosis and long-term intellectual functioning are largely uninvestigated, but may identify subgroups with different intellectual trajectories. Eighty-nine first-episode psychosis patients were investigated on IQ at baseline and at 10-years follow-up. Total time in psychosis was defined as two separate variables; Duration of psychosis before start of treatment (i.e. duration of untreated psychosis: DUP), and duration of psychosis after start of treatment (DAT). The sample was divided in three equal groups based on DUP and DAT, respectively. To investigate if diagnosis could separate IQ-trajectories beyond that of psychotic duration, two diagnostic categories were defined: core versus non-core SSDs. No significant change in IQ was found for the total sample. Intellectual course was not related to DUP or stringency of diagnostic category. However, a subgroup with long DAT demonstrated a significant intellectual decline, mainly associated with a weaker performance on test of immediate verbal recall/working memory (WAIS-R Digit Span). This indicates a relationship between accumulated duration of psychosis and long-term intellectual course, irrespective of diagnostic category, in a significant subgroup of patients. Highlights: We examine the 10 year course of IQ in 89 first-episode psychosis patients. We explore the relationship between course of IQ and illness severity. Accumulated duration of psychosis after start of treatment is related to IQ-decline. Course of IQ is not related to duration of psychosis before start of treatment. We identify a considerable subgroup of patients in need of targeted treatment.