A multi‐site Canadian perspective: examining the functional outcome from first‐episode psychosis

OBJECTIVE: To examine factors contributing to variance in functional outcome in first-episode psychosis (FEP) following 1 year of treatment. METHOD: Naturalistic 1-year follow-up of a FEP cohort (n = 200), from programs in four university centers in Ontario, Canada. Functional recovery was defined by 'Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale' (SOFAS) score>60. Regression analysis examined the contribution of independent variables to variance in functional outcome. RESULTS: Twelve-month outcome measures were available for 76.5% of the original cohort. Of these, 70% reported being in school/work and in satisfactory relationships. The functional recovery rate was 51%, compared to 74% attaining symptomatic remission. The greatest contributors to variance in outcome were ongoing symptoms at 6 months and substance abuse comorbidity. CONCLUSION: After 1 year of treatment, FEP patients show high rates of symptomatic remission and relatively lower rates of functional recovery. Symptoms and substance abuse contribute to variance in outcome.