The effects of extended early intervention services on clinical and functional outcomes in first-episode psychosis

BACKGROUND: This study examined the functional and clinical effects of extending Early Intervention Service (EIS) for individuals with first-episode psychosis (FEP) by one additional year, compared with transitioning to standard care (SC) after completing two years of EIS. Age and duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) were explored as potential moderators across a broad age range (15-55 years). METHODS: Secondary analyses were conducted on two randomised controlled trials involving 400 FEP patients who had completed two years of EIS (extended EIS: n = 202; SC: n = 198). Participants were assessed at two years and again at three years. Multiple linear regression and mixed-effects models were used to evaluate treatment effects and the moderating roles of age (