A 20-Year Follow-up of First Episode Psychosis: Longitudinal Effects of Early Treatment Strategies and Relapse

Recruiting now

Conditions studied: Schizophrenia

In brief

The study aims to address the following questions: 1. Do subgroups defined by early medication choices, relapse, and medication taken over 20 years differ in clinical, cognitive, and functional outcomes? 2. What are the long-term cognitive functioning trajectories, what factors predict these trajectories, and how do they relate to outcomes? 3. What might be the mechanisms behind medication discontinuation and poor long-term outcome, including the roles of multiple relapses and treatment resistance after first-episode psychosis? Eligible patients will be invited to a one-time face-to-face interview. A trained research assistant will guide the participants through questions about their background, clinical symptoms, daily functioning, cognitive abilities, and psychological well-being.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07616999

Run by

The University of Hong Kong

People needed

178

Starts

2026-05-21

Expected to finish

2028-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-06-26

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• A diagnosis of schizophrenia or non-affective psychosis (schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, brief psychotic disorder, or psychosis not otherwise specified) (DSM-IV)
• Aged 18 to 65 years at the time of original enrolment
• Had been treated with antipsychotic drugs for at least 12 months
• No history of relapse or exacerbation or had to be asymptomatic (free of positive symptoms of psychosis) at study entry.

You may not qualify if…

• A diagnosis of drug-induced psychosis
• Current treatment with clozapine, with mood stabilizing medications (lithium, valproate or carbamazepine) or with depot medication
• Had high risk of suicide or violence
• Inability to provide informed consent at recruitment

Where it is running

• Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital — Hong Kong, China (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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