Abstract
Aims
Engagement can be understood as a multi-factorial process incorporating acceptance of treatment, therapeutic rapport and collaboration in a shared goal of clinical and functional recovery. Difficulties in engagement with clinical services represent a risk factor for treatment discontinuation in First Episode Psychosis. The current study explored associations between engagement, clinical and pre-onset variables.
Methods
We report cross sectional data on a Scottish First Episode Psychosis sample,
characterised in terms of psychotic symptomatology, premorbid adjustment,
Duration of untreated psychosis and clinician rated engagement.
Results
Poorer clinician rated engagement was associated with greater positive and negative symptoms, greater general psychopathology and poorer premorbid social adjustment. In a regression analysis only severity of negative symptoms predicted engagement.
Conclusion
The study highlights the role of negative symptoms and impairments in social
functioning as factors associated with poorer engagement with clinical services. The value of detailed assessment of social and premorbid functioning is highlighted.
Engagement can be understood as a multi-factorial process incorporating acceptance of treatment, therapeutic rapport and collaboration in a shared goal of clinical and functional recovery. Difficulties in engagement with clinical services represent a risk factor for treatment discontinuation in First Episode Psychosis. The current study explored associations between engagement, clinical and pre-onset variables.
Methods
We report cross sectional data on a Scottish First Episode Psychosis sample,
characterised in terms of psychotic symptomatology, premorbid adjustment,
Duration of untreated psychosis and clinician rated engagement.
Results
Poorer clinician rated engagement was associated with greater positive and negative symptoms, greater general psychopathology and poorer premorbid social adjustment. In a regression analysis only severity of negative symptoms predicted engagement.
Conclusion
The study highlights the role of negative symptoms and impairments in social
functioning as factors associated with poorer engagement with clinical services. The value of detailed assessment of social and premorbid functioning is highlighted.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 359-364 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease |
| Volume | 201 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2013 |
Keywords
- schizophrenia
- psychosis
- engagement
- quality of care
- premorbid adjustment