Comparison of antipsychotic naïve first‐episode psychosis patients and healthy controls in Uganda

Abstract

Introduction The risk factors for a first episode of psychosis in low and middle‐income countries (LMICs) are not well described. The study compared the association of different risk factors in patients with first‐episode psychosis patients and healthy controls from an LMIC context. Methods A comparative, descriptive, cross‐sectional study was performed in antipsychotic naïve first‐episode psychosis patients and healthy controls at the National referral hospital in Uganda. Standardized tools were used to assess sociodemographic (e.g., age, sex, socioeconomic status) and clinical (e.g., childhood trauma, quality of life) variables. First episode psychosis participants were compared to healthy controls in terms of sociodemographic and clinical variables, and logistic regression was used to determine predictors of FEP. Results Our final sample included 198 antipsychotic naïve first‐episode psychosis participants and 82 controls. Most participants were female (68.5%) with a mean age of 29.4 years. After adjusting for age and sex, FEP patients when compared to controls were less likely to be female [AOR 0.18 (95%CI 0.03–0.85; p = .031)], more likely to have experienced emotional abuse [AOR 1.30 (95%CI 1.02–1.65; p = .032)] and more likely to have a poor quality of life [AOR 0.93 (95%CI 0.89–0.97; p = .002)]. Discussion The risk factors for a first episode of psychosis in this low and middle‐income population were like those described in high‐income countries. Further studies on interventions to prevent the transition to psychotic disorders in this sub‐groups of patients are recommended. Also, the use of specialized early intervention services in improving the quality of life needs to be evaluated.

Prevalence, profile and associations of cognitive impairment in Ugandan first-episode psychosis patients

“…These have been previously described ( Mwesiga et al, 2021 ). Briefly, this was a cross-sectional study design undertaken at the National Psychiatric Mental referral hospital in Uganda (Butabika hospital).…”

“…The consent forms, sociodemographic questionnaire, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) version 7.0 ( Sheehan et al, 2010 ), Positive and Negative Signs and Symptoms of Schizophrenia (PANSS) ( Kay et al, 1987 ) and Childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ) ( Bernstein et al, 1998 ) used in this study were previously described ( Mwesiga et al, 2021 ).…”

Exploring facilitators for a transition from alternative and complementary therapies to evidence-based treatments in Ugandan first-episode psychosis patients

“…These patients’ initial presentation to hospitals for EBTs is characterized by severe illness presentations (1). However, the reasons for the transition from ACT to EBTs are unclear (1, 19, 20). It is also unclear if the reasons for the transition are similar between patients and caregivers.…”

Clinical and psychopathological features and psychopharmacotherapy of patients with the first episode of schizophrenia hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital with and without voluntary consent

“…При этом подходы к терапии при первом психотическом эпизоде отличаются от таковых для пациентов с повторными приступами [2,3]. Для сохранения приемлемого уровня социального функционирования пациента необходимо начинать терапевтические вмешательства уже на ранних этапах развития заболевания [4,5]. Несвоевременное начало лечения пациентов с первым психотическим эпизодом приводит к утяжелению течения заболевания, понижает качество ремиссии, ухудшает социальное функционирование и качество жизни больного [6].…”