T238. RATES AND PREDICTORS OF RELAPSE IN AN AUSTRALIAN FIRST EPISODE PSYCHOSIS COHORT

BACKGROUND: Clinical and functional recovery is usually achieved after treatment for a first episode of psychosis (FEP). Unfortunately, subsequent relapse remains common, occurring within a year for approximately 30% of individuals and within five years for 80%. What makes someone more likely to relapse remains poorly understood. METHODS: This study is a naturalistic cohort study of young people (15–25 years old) accessing an early intervention in psychosis service in Melbourne, Australia between 1st January 2011 and 31st December 2016. Demographic and clinical predictors of relapse were collected from patient records and analysed using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1220 young people presented with a FEP during the study period and 37.7% (N=460) experienced at least one relapse during their episode of care. Over half of all relapses resulted in an admission to hospital. Non-adherence to medication, substance use and psychosocial stressors precipitated relapses. Significant predictors of relapse in this sample were a diagnosis of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder or an affective psychotic disorder, amphetamine use, and substance use during treatment. DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that relapse occurs frequently for young people who have experienced FEP. This is one of the first studies to find that amphetamine use increases the risk of relapse. Clinical services, especially in Australasia, need to consider how best to manage this co-morbidity in young people with FEP.