Metabolic parameters as possible diagnostic predictors in first‐episode psychosis: An exploratory retrospective cohort study

Aim Patients in early phases of schizophrenia or mood disorders with psychotic symptoms have a wide array of metabolic abnormalities. We analysed the potential predictive value of uric acid (UA) levels and other metabolic parameters in first‐episode psychosis patients to differentiate between non‐affective and affective psychosis. Methods Retrospective chart review of all patients referenced to a first‐episode psychosis unit (n = 149), between 2012 and 2017, with available UA levels. Patients included (n = 37) were compared according to the follow‐up diagnosis of schizophrenia or mood disorder. Results Mood disorder patients presented higher UA levels (p = .030) and lower fasting blood glucose levels (p = .020) compared with schizophrenia patients. The remaining variables did not show significant intergroup differences. Conclusions Findings in this first‐episode psychosis cohort support previous evidence suggesting higher UA levels as a predictor of affective psychosis and glucose dysfunction as predictive of schizophrenia. Further studies are needed to explore metabolic parameters as possible diagnostic predictors in first‐episode psychosis.