Disorder, not just state of risk: meta-analysis of functioning and quality of life in people at high risk of psychosis

Br J Psychiatry. 2015 Sep;207(3):198-206. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.157115.

Abstract

Background: The nosology of the psychosis high-risk state is controversial. Traditionally conceived as an 'at risk' state for the development of psychotic disorders, it is also conceptualised as a clinical syndrome associated with functional impairment.

Aims: To investigate meta-analytically the functional status of patients at high clinical risk for psychosis and its association with longitudinal outcomes.

Method: Three meta-analyses compared level of functioning (n = 3012) and quality of life (QoL) (n = 945) between a high-risk group, a healthy control group and group with psychosis, and baseline functioning in people in the high-risk group who did or did not have a transition to psychosis at follow-up (n = 654).

Results: People at high risk had a large impairment in functioning (P<0.001) and worse QoL (P = 0.001) than the healthy control group, but only small to moderately better functioning (P = 0.012) and similar QoL (P = 0.958) compared with the psychosis group. Among the high-risk group, those who did not develop psychosis reported better functioning (P = 0.001) than those who did.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that the high-risk state is characterised by consistent and large impairments of functioning and reduction in QoL similar to those in other coded psychiatric disorders.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Behavior / physiology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychotic Disorders / physiopathology
  • Psychotic Disorders / psychology*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Risk Factors
  • Young Adult