Researchers in Hong Kong followed a group of people for 12 years after their first episode of psychosis. The original study compared an extra year of specialized early care to a standard step-down to regular care. The goal was to see how people were doing many years later in terms of symptoms, daily function, and personal well-being.
Out of the 106 people who completed the long-term follow-up, about 75% had their symptoms under control. However, only about 25% had recovered their ability to function well in daily life, and only 16% met the study's definition for 'full recovery,' which combined symptom control, good function, and personal well-being. The extra year of early care was linked to better long-term symptom control in the analysis.
It's important to be careful with these results. Many people from the original study did not complete the 12-year follow-up, which can make the findings less reliable. Also, a significant number of participants still struggled with daily functioning. This study shows the long-term journey for some people with psychosis, but more research is needed to understand the best ways to support lasting recovery.