Ten-year trajectory and outcomes of negative symptoms of patients with first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders

This study explored the 10-year trajectories and outcomes of negative symptoms in patients with first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorder. Patients were from the historical control study comparing 10-year outcomes between standard care and early intervention services. A total of 298 patients were identified, 214 were successfully interviewed at 10-year follow-up for clinical and functional outcomes and 209 patients were included for final analyses. Information from clinical records were obtained systematically using standardized data entry forms. These information including negative symptoms, hospitalization and employment, monthly for year 1–3 and trimonthly for the year 4–10. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to explore the 10-year negative symptom clusters. Demographics and early clinical characteristics related to the cluster memberships and different components of negative symptom at 10-year follow-up were further explored. The cluster analysis identified three longitudinal clusters of negative symptoms and 15% of patients were in the relapsed group. There was no difference in cluster membership between the intervention groups. Male gender and duration of hospitalizations in year four were found to be significant determinants of relapse negative symptoms. Lower education level, higher year-one negative symptom score and more months of unemployment during the first 3 years predicted overall negative symptoms at 10-year follow-up. Male gender was found to be a predictor only for avolition and anhedonia and duration of untreated psychosis only predicted anhedonia. These results highlighted the heterogeneity of longitudinal outcomes and the importance of personalized interventions.