M240. The Relationship of Treatment Delay With Personality Trait and Family Cohesion in Patients With First-Episode Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Background Duration of Untreated Psychosis (DUP) is one of the important factors that affect the prognosis of schizophrenia. This study aimed to investigate the effects of personality trait and family relationships on delayed treatment of schizophrenia. Methods The subjects were 169 patients diagnosed with first-episode schizophrenia. It is a prospective study examined the socio-demographic factors with positive and negative syndrome (PANSS) and social occupational function (SOFAS). Personality trait was investigated with the Big Five Inventory (BFI-10) and family cohesion was investigated with the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales-III (FACES-III). The DUP was defined as the time period from the appearance of the first psychotic symptoms for more than several days to the time when antipsychotic treatment began. Groups were divided according to the median value of the DUP. Results The average DUP was 12.0 months and the median value was 3.0 months. In long DUP group, age is significantly older, the PANSS score was significantly higher and the SOFAS score was significantly lower. Logistic regression analysis showed that long DUP was associated with the conscientiousness of the BFI-10 (OR = 2.175, p = 0.004) and lower level of family cohesion of FACES-III (OR = 0.930, p = 0.025). Discussion As a result of the study, treatment delay of psychosis was associated with lower cohesion and adaptability of family function and the tendency of the personality with conscientiousness. These suggest that the role of the family in accessing mental health services is important when the initial symptoms of schizophrenia develop.