Acute treatment response and its predictors in patients with first-episode psychosis in Iran

Objective: The aim of this paper was to investigate the acute treatment response and its predictors in a sample of patients with first-episode psychosis admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Iran. Method: A total of 163 patients with first-episode psychosis were treated with antipsychotics and other medications as prescribed by their treating psychiatrists. Sociodemographic and premorbid data at baseline and clinical data at both baseline and discharge (61 weeks after admission) were collected. Results: Patients showed a response rate of 71.4% for negative symptoms, 91.5% for positive symptoms and 67.5% for functioning. Those having a positive family history and less severe negative symptoms at baseline were less likely to respond in terms of negative symptoms. Higher premorbid and lower baseline functioning as well as acute onset were associated with the treatment response. Conclusions: Acute treatment response of first-episode psychosis in a clinical sample of a developing country seems to be higher than that of developed countries. However, predictors of response are comparable.