Early detection of psychosis; why should we care?

2^nd International Conference on Nursing & Healthcare

November 17-19, 2014 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago-North Shore Conference Center, USA

Nynke Boonstra

Accepted Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

Psychotic disorders, and particularly schizophrenia, are generally associated with poor outcome. An important factor in this association is the period of untreated psychosis; duration of untreated psychosis (DUP). The term DUP covers a number of different elements - the reason for the delay may reside within the patient, the mechanisms of referral, or the recognition by the treating team. The start of the DUP usually is defined by the onset of clear cut positive psychotic symptoms and its end is defined by the commencement of antipsychotic treatment. Early detection teams are aimed to shorten the duration of untreated psychosis in order to achieve better functional outcome. Early detection has been mainly focused on the presence of positive psychotic symptoms like delusions and hallucinations. We showed the usefulness of broadening the focus of early detection to negative symptoms which are characterized by a decrease of the ability to emotionally respond. The relationship between duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and negative symptoms is strong and persistent, even after 8 years of followup, and so far has been underestimated. Negative symptoms are resistant to treatment and therefore prevention seem the best available option to ameliorate the course of psychotic disorders. In this presentation you will learn more about the prognosis of psychotic disorder, the DUP concept will be discussed as well as interventions to shorten it and to what extent shortening of DUP will be effective.