Early Intervention

Is early intervention for psychosis feasible and effective?

Vinod Srihari, Jai Shah, and Matcheri Keshavan

Services that provide comprehensive early intervention (EI) have shown promise in improving long-term outcomes in schizophrenia. This paper reviews the rationale and salient concepts relevant to understanding the growing EI literature. A selective review of studies evaluating the effectiveness of integrated EI is followed by a discussion of feasibility, especially in the U.S. context. Finally, the authors present a framework that seeks to integrate activities traditionally categorized and separated as discovery and implementation. This framework is offered as one way to advance both goals.

Progress and Future Directions in Research on the Psychosis Prodrome: A Review for Clinicians

Kristen Woodberry, Daniel Shapiro, Caitlin Bryant, and Larry Seidman

Prevention of acute psychosis and psychotic disorder, although worthy goals, may be less important than the prevention of disability. Many PR individuals have significant disability even in the absence of a transition to psychosis. With the increase in attention to functional outcomes and the often harder to treat factors, such as cognition, that predict them, it will be important to work toward smarter treatment, not just more treatment.