PSYSCAN multi-centre study: baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of the clinical high risk for psychosis sample

Predicting outcomes in individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) of developing psychosis remains challenging using clinical metrics alone. The PSYSCAN project aimed to enhance predictive value by integrating data across clinical, environmental, neuroimaging, cognitive, and peripheral blood biomarkers. PSYSCAN employed a naturalistic, prospective design across 12 sites (Europe, Australia, Asia, Americas). Assessments were conducted at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months, with follow-ups at 18 and 24 months to evaluate clinical and functional outcomes. The study included 238 CHR individuals and 134 healthy controls (HC). At baseline, CHR and HC groups differed significantly in age, education, IQ, and vocational and relationship status. Cannabis and tobacco use did not significantly differ between groups, however CHR individuals had higher proportion of moderate to high risk of tobacco abuse. A substantial portion of the CHR sample met DSM criteria for anxiety (53.4%) and/or mood disorders (52.9%), with some prescribed antidepressants (38.7%), antipsychotics (13.9%), or benzodiazepines (16.4%). Over the follow-up period, 25 CHR individuals (10.5%) transitioned to psychosis. However, the CHR group as a whole showed improvements in functioning and attenuated psychotic symptoms. Similar to other recent multi-centre studies, the CHR cohort exhibits high comorbidity rates and relatively low psychosis transition rates. These findings highlight the clinical heterogeneity within CHR populations and suggest that outcomes extend beyond psychosis onset, reinforcing the need for broader prognostic models that consider functional and transdiagnostic outcomes.

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Publication Details

Journal
Schizophrenia
Published
2025-04-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-025-00598-x
Citations
8
Primary Topic
Schizophrenia research and treatment
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
11.77

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article

PSYSCAN multi-centre study: baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of the clinical high risk for psychosis sample

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8 citations
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia research and treatment
11.77
article

PSYSCAN multi-centre study: baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of the clinical high risk for psychosis sample

Celso Arango, Dominic Oliver, Matthew J. Kempton, Paola Dazzan, Romina Mizrahi, Sandra Vieira, Thérèse van Amelsvoort, Jun Soo Kwon, Kate Merritt, Silvana Galderisi, Alexis E. Cullen, Barnaby Nelson, Lieuwe de Haan, Paolo Fusar‐Poli, Andrea Mechelli, Stephen M. Lawrie, Philip K. McGuire, Rodrigo A. Bressan, Stefania Tognin, A. Ter Maat
article en
8 citations

Abstract

Predicting outcomes in individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) of developing psychosis remains challenging using clinical metrics alone. The PSYSCAN project aimed to enhance predictive value by integrating data across clinical, environmental, neuroimaging, cognitive, and peripheral blood biomarkers. PSYSCAN employed a naturalistic, prospective design across 12 sites (Europe, Australia, Asia, Americas). Assessments were conducted at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months, with follow-ups at 18 and 24 months to evaluate clinical and functional outcomes. The study included 238 CHR individuals and 134 healthy controls (HC). At baseline, CHR and HC groups differed significantly in age, education, IQ, and vocational and relationship status. Cannabis and tobacco use did not significantly differ between groups, however CHR individuals had higher proportion of moderate to high risk of tobacco abuse. A substantial portion of the CHR sample met DSM criteria for anxiety (53.4%) and/or mood disorders (52.9%), with some prescribed antidepressants (38.7%), antipsychotics (13.9%), or benzodiazepines (16.4%). Over the follow-up period, 25 CHR individuals (10.5%) transitioned to psychosis. However, the CHR group as a whole showed improvements in functioning and attenuated psychotic symptoms. Similar to other recent multi-centre studies, the CHR cohort exhibits high comorbidity rates and relatively low psychosis transition rates. These findings highlight the clinical heterogeneity within CHR populations and suggest that outcomes extend beyond psychosis onset, reinforcing the need for broader prognostic models that consider functional and transdiagnostic outcomes.

SchizophreniaVol. 11(1)
University of Copenhagen (DK), Universidad de Cantabria (ES), Mount Sinai Health System (US), Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA), Philipps University of Marburg (DE), Tel Aviv University (IL), The University of Melbourne (AU), King's College London (GB), University of Toronto (CA), Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway (IE), University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" (IT), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (GB), University of Zurich (CH), Heidelberg University (DE), University of Pavia (IT), Sheba Medical Center (IL), Royal Edinburgh Hospital (GB), Canada Research Chairs (CA), Glostrup Hospital (DK), University Hospital Heidelberg (DE), Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (GB), New Generation University College (ET), Rigshospitalet (DK), Warneford Hospital (GB), Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón (ES), University Medical Center Utrecht (NL), Maastricht University (NL), National Institute for Health and Care Research (GB), University of Oxford (GB), Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (ES), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (ES), Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (ES), Orygen (AU), Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla (ES), University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" (IT), Oxford BioMedica (United Kingdom) (GB), Mondriaan GGZ (NL), Amsterdam University Medical Centers (NL), University College London (GB), McGill University (CA), Medical University of Vienna (AT), University of Coimbra (PT), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (BR), University of Amsterdam (NL), University of Lausanne (CH), University of Edinburgh (GB), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
Wellcome, Fundación Alicia Koplowitz, Wellcome Trust, European Commission, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, National Institutes of Health, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, National Health and Medical Research Council, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, European Regional Development Fund, National Institute of Mental Health
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Schizophrenia research and treatment
11.77
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