The proportion of people with primary affective disorders presenting to early intervention services: systematic review and meta-analysis
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background
People with affective psychotic disorders often face diagnostic delays and presentations are under-recognised at first contact with early intervention services (EIS). Despite their clinical significance, most research and service models for first-episode psychosis (FEP) have focused on non-affective psychoses.
Aims
We sought to clarify the relative prevalence of affective psychoses in EIS.
Method
A systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of observational studies reporting proportion of affective psychotic disorders among individuals presenting to EIS with FEP was conducted. Eligible studies included treated FEP populations diagnosed using DSM/ICD criteria. Searches were conducted in Web of Science, Medline and PsycINFO (inception to July 2025). The primary outcome was pooled proportion of affective psychotic disorders. Heterogeneity was assessed using Q-statistics and I2-statistics. Meta-regressions examined potential moderators, including urbanicity, national income level and geographical region.
Results
Eighty-three studies (N = 30 946; mean age 24.95 years; 34.78% female) were included. Random-effects pooled proportion was 18.0% (95% CI 15.4–20.6; 95% prediction interval 3.6–39.4%; I2 = 95.6%). Schizoaffective disorder represented 7.4% (k = 49; 95% CI 5.8–9.2). Schizophrenia was the most frequent diagnosis, with a pooled proportion of 45.5% (k = 79; 95% CI 40.3–50.7). Meta-regression analyses identified that affective psychoses were less common in Asia and more common in North America compared with Europe. Higher urbanicity was also associated with increased prevalence. Associations with national income level (NIL) were limited by small subgroup sizes.
Conclusions
Affective psychotic disorders constitute a meaningful subgroup within EIS. This suggests better screening, targeted treatments and adaptive service models of care.
People with affective psychotic disorders often face diagnostic delays and presentations are under-recognised at first contact with early intervention services (EIS). Despite their clinical significance, most research and service models for first-episode psychosis (FEP) have focused on non-affective psychoses.
Aims
We sought to clarify the relative prevalence of affective psychoses in EIS.
Method
A systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of observational studies reporting proportion of affective psychotic disorders among individuals presenting to EIS with FEP was conducted. Eligible studies included treated FEP populations diagnosed using DSM/ICD criteria. Searches were conducted in Web of Science, Medline and PsycINFO (inception to July 2025). The primary outcome was pooled proportion of affective psychotic disorders. Heterogeneity was assessed using Q-statistics and I2-statistics. Meta-regressions examined potential moderators, including urbanicity, national income level and geographical region.
Results
Eighty-three studies (N = 30 946; mean age 24.95 years; 34.78% female) were included. Random-effects pooled proportion was 18.0% (95% CI 15.4–20.6; 95% prediction interval 3.6–39.4%; I2 = 95.6%). Schizoaffective disorder represented 7.4% (k = 49; 95% CI 5.8–9.2). Schizophrenia was the most frequent diagnosis, with a pooled proportion of 45.5% (k = 79; 95% CI 40.3–50.7). Meta-regression analyses identified that affective psychoses were less common in Asia and more common in North America compared with Europe. Higher urbanicity was also associated with increased prevalence. Associations with national income level (NIL) were limited by small subgroup sizes.
Conclusions
Affective psychotic disorders constitute a meaningful subgroup within EIS. This suggests better screening, targeted treatments and adaptive service models of care.
Date Issued
2026-04-30
Date Acceptance
2026-02-10
Citation
The British Journal of Psychiatry, 2026
ISSN
0007-1250
Publisher
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Journal / Book Title
The British Journal of Psychiatry
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Royal College of Psychiatrists This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/42057639
PII: S0007125026106023
Subjects
Affective psychosis
bipolar type I or II disorders
early intervention services
psychosis
psychotic disorders/schizophrenia
Publication Status
Published online
Coverage Spatial
England
Date Publish Online
2026-04-30