Cited by 118Schizophrenia research and treatmentMental Health Treatment and AccessBipolar Disorder and Treatment

Can Long-Term Outcomes Be Improved by Shortening the Duration of Untreated Illness in Psychiatric Disorders? A Conceptual Framework

Dell’Osso, Bernardo, Glick, Ira D., Baldwin, David S., Altamura, A. Carlo·2013·Psychopathology

Abstract

The duration of untreated illness (DUI), meaning the latency to the pharmacological treatment, has been increasingly investigated in the last decade as a predictor of outcome across different psychiatric conditions, particularly in psychotic disorders. DUI is essentially computed by subtracting the age of onset of a specific disorder from the age at which the first adequate pharmacological treatment is administered. Assessment of the latency to treatment represents one of the first steps in planning early interventions. This review examines the role of the DUI in psychotic and affective disorders, focusing on neuropathological, epidemiologic, clinical and prognostic factors related to a longer latency to treatment. Through a Medline and Cochrane Library search, relevant studies up to June 2011 and other pertinent articles including meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, naturalistic studies and clinical reviews were identified. Converging evidence indicates that a prolonged DUI negatively influences the outcome of first-episode psychosis and schizophrenia in different ways, and increasing data point toward a similar conclusion in affective disorders. Even though methodological limitations related to investigation of the DUI need to be considered, research and interventions aimed to reduce latency to treatments are object of increasing implementation worldwide. The assessment of the DUI represents one of the most important parameters to consider in this perspective, in order to quantify different latency to treatment in specific disorders and to plan related, targeted interventions.

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Crossref · 10.1159/000338608

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  • Increasing evidence suggests a similar effect of reducing duration of untreated illness for other psychiatric disorders including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

    “Increasing evidence suggests a similar effect for other psychiatric disorders including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive–compulsive disorder [96].”

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Authors
Dell’Osso, B., Glick, I. D., Baldwin, D. S., & Altamura, A. C.
Affiliations
  • University of Milan (IT)
  • Stanford Medicine (US)
  • University of Southampton (GB)
Venue
Psychopathology
Publisher
S. Karger AG
Published
2012-08-07
Volume
46
Issue
1
Pages
14-21
ISSN
  • 0254-4962 (ISSN-L)
  • 1423-033X
OpenAlex
W2059648340
Cited by
118
References
69
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
FWCI
0.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychopathology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
Keywords
duration of untreated illness, first-episode psychosis, schizophrenia, mood disorders, early intervention, treatment outcomes, prognostic factors, mental illness
MeSH terms
Mental Disorders, Humans, Time Factors, Treatment Outcome

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