[Controversies about duration of untreated psychosis as independent prognostic variable of the evolutive course of schizophrenic psychoses]. / Controversias en torno al tiempo de psicosis no tratada como variable pronóstica independiente del curso evolutivo de las psicosis esquizofrénicas.

This study reviews recent literature on duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and its most relevant characteristics and controversial issues, such as: a) why DUP has been pointed out as a main variable in first-episode psychosis research, and b) the role of DUP in designing intervention programs for the design and different action strategies in early intervention programs in psychoses. The authors also present data from a 2 year follow-up study of 231 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and/or schizophreniform disorder (according to DSM-IV criteria). Results are included, analyzing DUP as prognostic factor for clinical outcome. Our conclusions suggest that DUP is a risk marker but not an independent prognostic factor determining follow-up in schizophrenic psychoses. Therefore, DUP's role in early intervention programs should be redefined.

[The psychiatric patient with deficits: a study of patients presenting at the emergency medical service]. / El paciente psiquiátrico deficitario. Un estudio de su presentación en los servicios de urgencia.

We present the six months prospective study results assessing clinical, social and demographic features in defectual psychiatric patients (chronic psychosis, dementia syndrome, intellectual deficit) who went to Basurto Hospital's Emergency room during that period of time. The studio data were obtained applying a clinical epidemiological questionnaire. Some problems derived from attending these patients were analyzed. Suggestions to improve the efficacy of the defectual psychiatric patient's assessment are proposed.