P0082 - Schizophrenia: is therapy involving early warning symptoms and antipsychotics successful?

Abstract

Background and Aims:

Are early warning symptoms used in treatment, and if so what result does this therapy have in practise? Is the presumption correct that therapy with a focus on early warning symptoms results in less new episodes and more compliance towards antipsychotic medicine?

Methods:

The policy for patients with schizophrenia within GGNet was checked. Moreover, an extensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, the internet in general and research contacts in order to avoid important literature to be left out.

Results:

In this study, in line with previous research on early warning symptoms (O'Sullivan & Gilbert, 2003), it was found that they are indeed successfully used in practice (e.g., Birchwood, Spencer, & McGovern, 2000). Moreover, it was also found that patients and their families feel safer and know what to do if new episodes seem to be emerging (e.g., Bosch & Van den Noort, 2008).

Conclusions:

Early warning symptoms are indeed successfully used in treatment (e.g., Bosch & Van den Noort, 2008). More research is needed, in order to optimise the techniques that are used in practise. This might result in lower annual cost of rehospitalization for multiple-episode schizophrenia outpatients (e.g., Weiden & Oltson, 1995). Recognising early warning symptoms might be taught, but one point that needs our further attention is the therapyplan that is made after this learning process. How to make this plan work and to optimise the use of early warning symptoms should be a topic for further research.