Design and Methodology of the Korean Early Psychosis Cohort Study.
- Author:
Sung Wan KIM
1
;
Bong Ju LEE
;
Jung Jin KIM
;
Je Chun YU
;
Kyu Young LEE
;
Seung Hee WON
;
Seung Hwan LEE
;
Seung Hyun KIM
;
Shi Hyun KANG
;
Young Chul CHUNG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Schizophrenia and psychotic disorder; Cohort; Early intervention; First episode psychosis; KEPS
- MeSH: Cohort Studies*; Early Intervention (Education); Humans; Life Style; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Prospective Studies; Psychotic Disorders*; Recurrence; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
- From:Psychiatry Investigation 2017;14(1):93-99
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: The present study details the rationale and methodology of the Korean Early Psychosis Cohort Study (KEPS), which is a clinical cohort investigation of first episode psychosis patients from a Korean population. The KEPS is a prospective naturalistic observational cohort study that follows the participants for at least 2 years. This study includes patients between 18 and 45 years of age who fulfill the criteria for one of schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders according to the diagnostic criteria of DSM-5. Early psychosis is defined as first episode patients who received antipsychotic treatment for fewer than 4 consecutive weeks after the onset of illness or stabilized patients in the early stages of the disorder whose duration of illness was less than 2 years from the initiation of antipsychotic treatment. The primary outcome measures are treatment response, remission, recovery, and relapse. Additionally, several laboratory tests are conducted and a variety of objective and subjective psychiatric measures assessing early life trauma, lifestyle pattern, and social and cognitive functioning are administered. This long-term prospective cohort study may contribute to the development of early intervention strategies and the improvement of long-term outcomes in patients with schizophrenia.
