Objectives: To investigate the association between peripheral blood C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels in first-episode psychosis (FEP) and clinical outcomes. 
Background: Inflammation is a risk factor for psychosis. Studies showed that changes in the serum level of CRP (an inflammation biomarker) in acute psychosis may predict cognitive function in later phases of the disease, influencing the prognosis. 
Materials and methods: We included all FEP inpatients at Santarém District Hospital, Portugal, from 2014 to 2016, aged 18-59 years, with available data (n = 50). We compared the patients with elevated CRP levels (>0,3 mg/dL) with the patients with low CRP levels (≤0,3 mg/dL) at admission. We collected data at admission and during hospitalization: gender, age, diagnosis at discharge, duration of untreated psychosis and consumption of cannabinoids. Length of hospitalization, rehospitalization and employment were collected at 9 months follow up. Data statistical analysis was conducted using Chi-square and exact Fisher tests at the p-value <0.05 level.
Results: We found a significant inverse association between elevated CRP and employment at 9 months follow-up [Odds Ratio (OR) = 0,298 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0,090 - 0,984, p = 0,043)]. After stratifying for age, this association was still significant in the group < 40 years [Odds Ratio (OR) = 0,083 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0,008 – 0,834, p = 0,049)] but not in the group ≥ 40 years.
Conclusions: Elevated CRP seems to be linked to a poor outcome in socio-professional rehabilitation, meaning this could constitute a biomarker of prognosis in patients admitted with FEP.

10 - DOES INFLAMMATION PREDICTS CLINICAL OUTCOMES IN FIRST-EPISODE PSYCHOSIS? A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY