Early-stage trajectories of social-occupational functioning and long-term functional outcome prediction in early psychosis: A 12-year follow-up of the randomized controlled trial on extended early intervention.

In 30 seconds

This randomized controlled trial followed 148 participants with early psychosis over 12 years to examine early social-occupational functioning trajectories. Four distinct trajectories were identified, with over one-fourth of participants in a persistently-poor class, which predicted worse long-term functional outcomes compared to other classes.

Key findings

• Over one-fourth of participants exhibited a persistently-poor social-occupational functioning trajectory.
• Patients in the persistently-poor class had more severe negative symptoms at baseline.
• Those with a persistently-poor trajectory had worse long-term outcomes in most functional measures.

Why it matters

Understanding early social-occupational functioning trajectories in psychosis can help clinicians identify patients at risk for poor long-term outcomes, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions during the initial years of illness.