Early intervention in psychosis: Another triumph of hope over experience?

Abstract

Evidence that longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) was associated with poor premorbid functioning in the year before onset, insidious onset and more negative symptoms at onset, led to the assumption that reducing DUP could improve long-term outcome - hence the development of early intervention in psychosis (EIP) services. The authors investigate the evidence for and against EIP services and discuss how societal/family issues can also strongly influence mental health.