Predictors of short-term course in mexican first-episode psychosis patients

Background and objectives The identification of prognostic factors in patients with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders should enhance our understanding of the aetiology of these disorders and improve their treatment. The first years following an initial episode of psychosis are a «critical period» for biological and psychosocial influences that affect future outcome. Both, short-term outcome and baseline predictors, have been defined by different measures, making the comparison among studies difficult. Studies of the predictive value of baseline demographic and clinical characteristics in the Mexican population are still limited. Hence, the present study aims to: 1. replicate the prognostic value of selected patient characteristics previously related to the short-term course of psychosis in Mexican first-episode psychosis patients, and 2. retrospectively assess their prognostic value in the prediction of diagnosis, presence of psychotic residual symptoms, and number of psychotic episodes at least three-years later.