Lead-Time Bias Confounds Association Between Duration of Untreated Psychosis and Illness Course in Schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

At first hospitalization, a long duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) predicts illness severity and worse treatment outcomes. The mechanism of this association, however, remains unclear. It has been hypothesized that lengthy untreated psychosis is toxic or that it reflects a more severe form of schizophrenia. Alternatively, the association may be an artifact of lead-time bias. These hypotheses are tested in a longitudinal study of schizophrenia with 2,137 observations spanning from childhood to 20 years after first admission.

Methods

Data were from the Suffolk County Mental Health Project. The cohort included 287 individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. DUP was defined as days from first psychotic symptom to first psychiatric hospitalization. Ps

SUBMITTER: Jonas KG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10754034 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature