Original Title: Evaluación de la efectividad de la intervención psicológica en los primeros episodios psicóticos mediante tratamiento multidisciplinar

Authors' objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of the integrated psychological treatment (psychotherapy and psychoeducational interventions) as adjunctive therapy to drug and psychiatric treatment in people who have experienced a first psychotic episode. To improve the coordination between different health structures in charge of the treatment of the first psychotic episodes (intra and extrahospitalary structures).

Authors' results and conclusions: We observed a clinical and functional improvement in both groups from baseline to after the end of treatment, at 6 months. However, patients in the integrated treatment show a symptomatic reduction in more areas than the control group . Comparing the improvement experienced by patients in both groups, it was found that patients who underwent integrated treatment had reduced most significantly its negative symptomatology and functionality than patients in the control group. The time until relapse is higher in the experimental group and the admission rate is lower compared to the control group. On the other hand, it can also be noted that patients undergoing the experimental treatment have a greater ability to stop consuming toxic. Integrated treatment improved disease awareness and treatment adherence. In view of these results it is important to consider the need to implement this treatment in a systematic way at health centers because these diseases appear at an early age, often producing a biopsychosocial rupture, affecting important areas such as family, social, school and work at the same time. Conclusions and recommendations Integrated psychological treatment besides the usual treatment that is applied to the first psychotic episodes improves patient outcomes, reducing psychotic, anxiety and depression symptoms, and improving functionality. Extension of this treatment in the Basque Health System is recommended because it has been proven effective at 6 months of treatment. However and to continue improving the health care we offer to our patients, we recommend to continue extending the sample of patients receiving this treatment in addition to expand the monitoring of these to assess more specifically their evolution and prognosis.

Authors' methods: Conducting a randomized clinical trial with masked evaluator in which patients suffering a first psychotic episode are assigned to two treatment arms: 1. TAU: Pharmacological treatment and regular sessions with his psychiatrist (Treatment as usual) 2. TI: Drug therapy, regular sessions with his psychiatrist (usual treatment) + integrated psychological therapy (16 psychoeducation and psychotherapy sessions) with the affected person. Sociodemographic data are collected and proceeds to perform a clinical, functional, satisfaction and quality of life assessment at baseline and after receiving treatment, 6 months after the inclusion in the study in both groups. Also, coordination between intrahospitalary and extrahopitalary structures helping patients to his return to normal life after hospitalization is improved.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2014

URL for published report: https://www.euskadi.eus/contenidos/informacion/2014_osteba_publicacion/es_def/adjuntos/episodipsicoti.pdf

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Other

Country: Spain

Organisation Name: Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment

Contact Address: C/ Donostia – San Sebastián, 1 (Edificio Lakua II, 4ª planta) 01010 Vitoria - Gasteiz

Contact Name: Lorea Galnares-Cordero

Contact Email: lgalnares@bioef.eus

Copyright: Osteba (Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment) Health Department of the Basque Government