Comparing antipsychotic medicines for first-episode psychosis
Comparative effectiveness of pharmacologic strategies to treat first episode psychosis
This project compares different antipsychotic pills and long-acting injections to find which best help teens and adults after their first episode of psychosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mclean Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Belmont, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11179458 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers use health records and pooled data from the FEP-CAUSAL Collaboration to compare outcomes after starting oral antipsychotics versus long-acting injectable formulations. They aim to mimic randomized trials by selecting comparable patient groups and using statistical methods to reduce bias. The team will benchmark their findings against two major trials (EUFEST and PRELAPSE) to increase confidence in observational results. Outcomes studied include medication adherence, relapse, and hospitalizations for adolescents and adults.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people (including adolescents and young adults) who have experienced a first episode of psychosis and who are starting or considering antipsychotic treatment.
Not a fit: People without psychotic disorders, those with long-standing chronic psychosis well past their first episode, or individuals not treated with antipsychotics are unlikely to directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify which medications and delivery methods reduce relapse and hospital stays for people after a first psychotic episode.
How similar studies have performed: Large randomized trials like EUFEST and PRELAPSE have shown important results for first-episode psychosis, and this project uses observational methods to extend and complement those findings.
Where this research is happening
Belmont, United States
- Mclean Hospital — Belmont, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hernan, Miguel — Mclean Hospital
- Study coordinator: Hernan, Miguel
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.