EPA-1532 - Descriptive Data about Patients with Early Psychosis, Attending Child and Adolescent Clinic of Psychiatry in Tirana, Albania

Abstract

Psychotic disorders, especially schizophrenia compose a serious and sometimes a fatale disease. Early intervention means early detection of new cases, shortening delays in effective treatment, and providing optimal and sustained treatment in the early ‘critical period’ of the first few years of illness. (Malla AK & al.) In developing countries, a significant proportion of cases never receive treatment (Padmavathi R. & al.,)

Aims

Description of socio-demographic characteristics and symptoms of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, treated in Tirana CAP (Child and Adolescent Psychiatry).

Methods

Study included 38 patients 13-19 years old who had been hospitalized in child and adolescent psychiatry during 2009-2012 years and diagnosed with psychotic disorders and/or schizophrenia. P value was obtained at 0.01 critical value using SPSS 19 for Windows 2007.

Results

52.6% of study group were females. 84.2% were presented with psychotic symptoms, 5.3% were suicidal attempts. More than 55.3% have had loss of interest in daily activities. Through the correlation coefficient of Kendal there is a statistically significant correlation between the time when the disorder started for the first time (in months) and loss of interest in daily activities (r = 0,347, p = 0.014).

Conclusions

We have a time lag of first receiving specialized service, especially when dominated with negative symptoms. Early treatment challenge is to identify patients with high risk for developing psychosis. Data from this study may represent a modest starting point for creating a successful albanian community network for early detection and interevention of early psychosis.