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To the Editor: For individuals with psychotic disorders, disengagement from treatment increases relapse risk (1). However, research on the effectiveness of interventions for early psychosis in preventing disengagement has yielded inconsistent results (2,3).
This retrospective study examined the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary team intervention for patients with first-episode psychosis implemented in the Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital in November 2009. A case manager allocated to each patient contacts the patient at least monthly and assists with social participation and clinical recovery by using psychosocial and pharmacological therapy according to guidelines (4). To be eligible for the study, which was approved by the hospital’s ethics committee, patients had to be age 15 to 25, live in the catchment area, have an ICD-10 F2 diagnosis (schizophrenia, schizotypal, and delusional disorders), and have first visited the clinic between November 2009 and October 2010 (intervention group) or between November 2007 and October 2009 (control group). Patients were not eligible if they had experienced multiple episodes of psychosis or had organic psychosis or a substance use disorder. For those who dropped out during the 12-month follow-up, outcome measurements at the last contact were used. We defined disengagement as dropping out during follow-up despite continued need and the team’s reengagement attempts. We defined functional remission as working or going to school for at least 16 per week for six continuous months. Outcomes were assessed by a blind rater (SA) using medical records. Analyses were conducted with Mann-Whitney U or Fisher exact tests in SPSS, version 17.0 J.
Of the 55 patients eligible for the intervention group, 40 were excluded (38 had multiple episodes and two had a substance use disorder). Of the 40 patients eligible for the control group, 25 were excluded (23 had multiple episodes and two had a substance use disorder). The 15 patients in the intervention group had a younger age at onset of psychosis and a longer duration of untreated psychosis than the 15 patients in the control group (p≤.01). However, the intervention group had a lower disengagement rate during follow-up (0% versus 33%, p=.04) and a lower rehospitalization rate (0% versus 20%, nonsignificant). Five patients in the intervention group were in functional remission at baseline, and all five sustained remission during follow-up. Of the six control group patients in functional remission at baseline, only one sustained remission (two disengaged).
The findings suggest that the intervention may be effective in preventing disengagement. The low disengagement rate in the intervention group may be attributable to the shorter follow-up period compared with previous studies (2,3) and to the relatively young age of the patients. In addition, all but one patient in the intervention group lived with family, which is characteristic of Japanese culture. We suggest that case managers play a vital role in preventing disengagement because they strengthen ties with users via continuous contact. The study had several limitations. In addition to the small sample, patients were not randomly assigned to the groups and no information on work history was available. We have undertaken a randomized controlled trial of this intervention (5).

Acknowledgments and disclosures

This study was funded by grant H22-seishin-ippan-015 from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. The authors thank Syudo Yamasaki, Ph.D., Naomi Inoue, Ph.D., Nozomu Asukai, M.D., Ph.D., Shigeko Ishikura, M.S.W., Etuko Aono, B.A., Hirohiko Harima, M.D., Toru Wakejima, M.D., and Yuji Okazaki, M.D., Ph.D.
The authors report no competing interests.

References

1.
Gitlin M, Nuechterlein K, Subotnik KL, et al.: Clinical outcome following neuroleptic discontinuation in patients with remitted recent-onset schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry 158:1835–1842, 2001
2.
Petersen L, Jeppesen P, Thorup A, et al.: A randomised multicentre trial of integrated versus standard treatment for patients with a first episode of psychotic illness. BMJ 331:602, 2005
3.
Gleeson JF, Cotton SM, Alvarez-Jimenez M, et al.: A randomized controlled trial of relapse prevention therapy for first-episode psychosis patients. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 70:477–486, 2009
4.
Bertolote J, McGorry P: Early intervention and recovery for young people with early psychosis: consensus statement. British Journal of Psychiatry Supplement 48:s116–s119, 2005
5.
Koike S, Nishida A, Yamasaki S, et al.: Comprehensive early intervention for patients with first-episode psychosis in Japan (J-CAP): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials 12:156, 2011

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Go to Psychiatric Services
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Cover: Man, by Ben Shahn, 1946. Tempera on composition board. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. E. Powis Jones, The Museum of Modern Art, New York. © Estate of Ben Shahn/Licensed by VAGA, New York. Digital image © The Museum of Modern Art/Licensed by SCALA/Art Resource, New York.

Psychiatric Services
Pages: 932 - 933
PubMed: 24026844

History

Published in print: September 2013
Published online: 15 October 2014

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Shuntaro Ando, M.D., M.Sc.P.H.
Dr. Ando and Dr. Nishida are affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan. Dr. Koike is affiliated with the Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo. Dr. Ando and Dr. Nishida contributed equally to this letter.
Atsushi Nishida, Ph.D.
Dr. Ando and Dr. Nishida are affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan. Dr. Koike is affiliated with the Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo. Dr. Ando and Dr. Nishida contributed equally to this letter.
Shinsuke Koike, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Ando and Dr. Nishida are affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan. Dr. Koike is affiliated with the Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo. Dr. Ando and Dr. Nishida contributed equally to this letter.

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