Diagnosis and treatment of patients with a first psychotic episode

The strategy of first-episode psychotic studies provides a valuable method for homogenizing variability due to its course. For this strategy to be eff ective, definition and operationalization of criteria for such studies are crucial. Studies of early schizophrenia offer several adventages for unrave ling the biology treatment and outcome of this disorder. Methodological cri teria in operationally defining illness onset and remission have allowed mo re carefull studies of treatment response in first-episode patients. The in itial evaluation of first-episode patients should include complete neurolog ical, general medical and psychiatric conditions. It's necessary to include a complete assessment to determinate some variables associated with the ou tcome, such as premorbid adjustment, psychosocial functioning and movement disorders. The studies of the first-episode of psychosis related with the t reatment support the efficacy of antipsychotic medication as both acute and maintenance treatment. The optimal duration of maintenance treatment, howe ver, has not been determined and the risk factors for relapses following me dication withdrawal cannot be specifically identified. First-episode psycho tic patients have a long time untreated psychosis associated with a poor ou tcome. Early intervention may improve the outcome in these patients, and th e use of novel antipsychotics may improve it and reduce the relapses. This paper is a review of the methodological strategies and treatment followed b y some authors in patients who experienced the first psychotic episode.