Duration of untreated psychosis and cognitive functioning in first-episodepatients

Background The 'toxicity' model of duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) su ggests that longer DUP will be associated with poorer performance on cognit ive tests in first-episode patients. Aims To test this hypothesis on a sample of 113 patients in a community-bas ed early intervention programme for psychosis. Method Information was collected concerning a number of possible predictors of cognitive functioning including DUP. These were examined for their rela tion to performance on an extensive battery of cognitive tests administered shortly after the patients' admission to the programme. Results Although several variables such as gender, premorbid adjustment, ed ucation and handedness predicted cognitive functioning, no relation was fou nd between DUP and performance on any component of the test battery. Conclusions Findings do not provide support for a toxic effect of DUP on co gnitive functioning. Other mechanisms through which DUP might affect outcom e such as psychological engulfment, social support and adherence to medicat ion are discussed.