The overall outcome for early intervention in psychosis is relatively similar to those with treatment beginning months or even years after onset of symptoms. There is no real way to predict how well one patient will do with proper medication and therapy based on any other case, because each person is different and life circumstances can play a big role in a treatment’s effectiveness. Earlier treatment is considered a plus, however, because it may allow young patients to find resolution to their symptoms sooner and prevent long-term mental anguish over misunderstanding their conditions. This may help treatment to work more effectively, since there are fewer outside stressors to contend with.
Most people with a psychotic illness show symptoms early in life, with the majority of all patients having their first episode before the age of 30. Early intervention in psychosis may be beneficial for a number of reasons, such as to prevent years of suffering unnecessarily. If the patient becomes violent or aggressive, it may also help to protect those around him or her from injury.
In general, early intervention in psychosis is comparable in effectiveness to later intervention, although the study of earlier treatments is still being carried out. Until recent years, psychotic illnesses were poorly understood and various treatment options continue to be discovered and used. Therefore, whether or not earlier treatment yields better results over time is not fully understood.
There are situations in which early intervention in psychosis is almost always more effective. This may be the case if the patient is suffering from severe depression, has suicidal thoughts, or becomes deeply anguished from a lack of understanding of his or her condition. Family relationships also tend to fare better with earlier treatments. The damage caused by mental suffering could lead to a worsened state of psychosis, and therefore make treatments less effective if started later in life.
Since there are different types of psychotic tendencies and conditions, treatments will vary based on the patient and condition. Not all mental illnesses respond the same to treatments, so some patients who receive early intervention may not fare as well as someone else who gets treatment later in his or her illness. This is would be due to the different natures of various mental illnesses, commitment to the patient in getting help, and the treatment being used. For instance, someone with early onset schizophrenia may not do as well with someone with bipolar disorder who is diagnosed years after onset.
