Transitions to adulthood in first-episode psychosis: a comparative study

Aim The first aim of this study is to compare attainment of five markers of transition to adulthood between young adults with first-episode psychosis and young adults without any psychopathology. The second aim is to examine if the association between age group and transition to adulthood is similar for individuals who experience first-episode psychosis versus those who do not. Methods Participants were 50 young adults with first-episode schizophrenia aged between 18 and 30years old, and 50 volunteers without any psychopathology matched for sex and age. Participants were assessed with the Quality of Life Scale and a questionnaire on markers of transition to adulthood. Results Significant differences appear between the groups for three of the five markers of transition to adulthood, namely: residential/financial independence, educational attainment and involvement in a romantic relationship. The effect of age on several markers is significant for the comparison group only. Conclusion Rehabilitation interventions should be informed by a developmental perspective on community functioning for young adults with first-episode schizophrenia. Vocational rehabilitation should be extended to focus more extensively on supported education and not only on supported employment, and interventions targeting residential independence should be granted more attention.