Abstract
Background
Outcomes in people at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) have usually been defined in terms of psychosis onset. However, within the subgroup of individuals who do not develop psychosis, some have persistent symptoms; while in others, symptoms resolve and functioning is restored. Currently, little is known about what predicts a good outcome (GO) in CHR-P individuals, partly because there is no consensus on how this should be defined.
Method
The Delphi method was used to elicit the opinions of 46 experts to reach a consensus on factors that together could define GO in the CHR-P population. Three online surveys were implemented. The panel rated each survey item according to how important they thought it was as a measure of GO. Participants also answered open-ended questions on how GO should be determined, their responses were subject to content analysis.
Results
Ninety-eight items were endorsed by 80% of the panel as essential or important for a GO; these fell into 4 domains: Functioning; Symptoms; Distress/Suicidality; and Subjective Wellbeing. The individual item that was rated as the most important, was daily functioning. Themes emerged from the qualitative data, which corresponded to the Delphi domains, including ‘functioning’; ‘clinical factors; and ‘user-defined outcomes’.
Conclusions
A GO in CHR-P subjects can be defined by using a combination of measures from domains that reflect level of functioning; symptoms; distress/suicidality; and subjective wellbeing. These results provide a basis for a standardised definition of good outcome in people at clinical high risk of psychosis.
Outcomes in people at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) have usually been defined in terms of psychosis onset. However, within the subgroup of individuals who do not develop psychosis, some have persistent symptoms; while in others, symptoms resolve and functioning is restored. Currently, little is known about what predicts a good outcome (GO) in CHR-P individuals, partly because there is no consensus on how this should be defined.
Method
The Delphi method was used to elicit the opinions of 46 experts to reach a consensus on factors that together could define GO in the CHR-P population. Three online surveys were implemented. The panel rated each survey item according to how important they thought it was as a measure of GO. Participants also answered open-ended questions on how GO should be determined, their responses were subject to content analysis.
Results
Ninety-eight items were endorsed by 80% of the panel as essential or important for a GO; these fell into 4 domains: Functioning; Symptoms; Distress/Suicidality; and Subjective Wellbeing. The individual item that was rated as the most important, was daily functioning. Themes emerged from the qualitative data, which corresponded to the Delphi domains, including ‘functioning’; ‘clinical factors; and ‘user-defined outcomes’.
Conclusions
A GO in CHR-P subjects can be defined by using a combination of measures from domains that reflect level of functioning; symptoms; distress/suicidality; and subjective wellbeing. These results provide a basis for a standardised definition of good outcome in people at clinical high risk of psychosis.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 209-216 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Schizophrenia Research |
| Volume | 208 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2019 |
Keywords
- Daily functioning
- Protective factors
- Remission
- Subjective wellbeing
- Support
- User-defined outcome
