Objective This study seeks to determine the effectiveness of a comprehensive first-episode service (the clinic for Specialized Treatment Early in Psychosis, STEP) based in an urban U.S. community mental health center, compared to treatment as usual. Methods This pragmatic randomized controlled trial enrolled 120 ‘first-episode psychosis’ patients within 5 years of illness onset and 12 weeks of antipsychotic exposure. Referrals were mostly from area inpatient psychiatric units and enrollees were randomly allocated to STEP or referral to routine care (TU). Main outcomes included hospital utilization (primary), ability to work, attend age-appropriate schooling or actively seek these opportunities (‘vocational engagement’), and general functioning. Analysis was by modified intent to treat (excluding only 3 who withdrew consent) for hospitalization and completers for other outcomes. Results After one year, STEP effected reductions on all measures of inpatient utilization vs. usual treatment: not psychiatrically hospitalized (77% vs. 56%, RR 1.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08–1.58); mean hospitalizations (0.33±0.70 vs. 0.68±0.92, p=0.02) and mean bed days (5.34±13.53 vs. 11.51±15.04, p=0.05). For every 5 patients allocated in STEP vs. usual treatment, one additional patient avoided psychiatric hospitalization over the first year (NNT = 5, CI 2.7–26.5). STEP also delivered better vocational engagement (91.7% vs. 66.7%, RR 1.40, 95% CI 1.18–1.48) and salutary trends in measures of global functioning. Conclusions This trial demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of a U.S. public sector model of early intervention for psychotic illnesses. Such services can also support translational research and are a relevant model for other serious mental illnesses. Trial registration www.ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00309452.

Objective-Studies in first episode psychosis samples about status of cardiovascular risk factors have shown discordant results. We aimed to determine the 10-year risk of developing coronary heart disease in a sample of first episode psychosis patients referred to an early intervention clinic and compared the same with age, gender, and race matched controls from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).Method-We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data of 56 subjects enrolled in first episode psychosis clinic from April 2006 and January 2010. This sample was compared with age, gender, and race matched 145 individuals drawn from NHANES 2005-2006 database. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected. Physical examination including laboratory evaluation was used to screen for common medical illnesses. The 10-year risk of developing coronary heart disease was calculated by using a tool developed by National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP-ATP III).Results-There were elevated rates of smoking (46%) and hypertension (11%) albeit statistically significant differences from the control could not be demonstrated for these measures or weight, body mass index, or total or HDL cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, status of diabetes and impaired fasting plasma glucose, HbA1C level. The 10-year median (range) risk of developing coronary heart disease in patients and controls was 1 (0-5) % and 0 (0-9) % respectively. The difference was not statistically significant.Conclusions-First episode psychosis patients do not present with significantly higher cardiovascular risk than age and race-matched controls despite clinically significant prevalence of individual risk factors. This sample presents an opportunity for early intervention for primary prevention of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

There are only a few randomized trials of continuation electroconvulsive therapy and maintenance electroconvulsive therapy. The preliminary and limited evidence suggests the modest efficacy of continuation electroconvulsive therapy and maintenance electroconvulsive therapy with concomitant pharmacotherapy in preventing relapse and recurrence of depressive episodes for 1 year after the remission of index episode with the acute course of electroconvulsive therapy.

Objective Better understanding of the temporal development of cardiovascular risk will permit more targeted prevention of premature cardiovascular mortality in schizophrenia. Methods The sample for this analysis was drawn from referrals (between 2006-‘11) to an early psychosis clinic based in a U.S. urban community mental health center. 76 individuals with schizophrenia who were young (mean 22.4 years, SD 4.8), early course (median duration of illness 31 weeks) and with minimal prior antipsychotic exposure (median 2 weeks) were compared to age-, gender-, and race-matched peers drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (2007-’08). Measures of cardiovascular risk at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year are reported. Results While indistinguishable from peers at entry, patients suffered pervasive adverse trajectories of cardiovascular risk factors over the subsequent year. 16 of 44 initial non-smokers became nicotine dependent and none of 32 entering smokers quit. 17 patients transitioned to overweight (BMI 25–29.9, n=3) or obese (BMI>30, n=14) categories, while only 24 of 38 (63%) sustained normal weight over one year. Similar adverse trends in blood pressure, lipids, and fasting glucose led to an increase in prevalence of metabolic syndrome (1.31% to 5.26%). 10-year cardiovascular risk estimates showed a small and significant increase although remaining in the low risk (<10%) category. Conclusions The early emergence of obesity and smoking in younger schizophrenia samples provides a rational focus for primary prevention of premature cardiovascular mortality. The first year of treatment constitutes the beginning of a critical period for such preventive efforts.

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