Delay in psychosis treatment worsens quality of life for decades
Research conducted in Dublin has shown that early intervention in psychosis can have long-lasting clinical benefits, with effects that can still be seen 20 years after the initial diagnosis. A study of 171 individuals presenting at mental health facilities between 1995 and 1999 found that delaying treatment for psychosis can lead to worsened symptoms, functioning, and quality of life.
A recent study led by the DETECT Early Intervention in Psychosis Service and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences has gained international recognition for its findings on the long-term effects of delayed treatment for psychosis. Published in The American Journal of Psychiatry, the study suggests that the benefits of early detection and intervention can persist for two decades or more.
Despite variations in outcomes depending on the specific measure, the study found consistent evidence that delayed treatment for psychosis leads to poorer long-term results. The importance of early intervention in mental health conditions, similar to physical health conditions like cancer and heart disease, is highlighted by this research.
This groundbreaking study, one of the longest of its kind globally, followed 171 individuals who first presented with psychosis in Dublin in the late 1990s. Participants were assessed at regular intervals over the course of 20 years, revealing that those with longer delays in treatment experienced more severe symptoms, decreased functioning, and lower quality of life.
The study underscores the significance of seeking help from mental health services promptly after experiencing symptoms of psychosis, as untreated psychosis can have lasting negative impacts on individuals. With an estimated one in 100 Irish people experiencing psychosis in their lifetime, early intervention is crucial for improving long-term outcomes.
Conducted by the DETECT Early Intervention in Psychosis Service in partnership with RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, the research was supported by the St John of God Research Foundation and funded by the Health Research Board and the Stanley Medical Research Institute in the USA.