Patient Retention and Family Engagement in Coordinated Specialty Care: Best Practices from Massachusetts Programs

Cheryl Y. S. Foo, PhD

Patient and family disengagement from coordinated specialty care (CSC) are common and compromise recovery from a first-episode of psychosis. This presentation will share findings from Massachusetts CSC programs on program characteristics, services, and strategies that promote patient retention and family engagement. 

 Cheryl Y. S. Foo, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and researcher focused on making evidence-based treatments for individuals with serious mental illness more accessible and used in community care settings. She is the Associate Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Center of Excellence for Psychosocial and Systemic Research, Director of Family Services of the MGH First Episode and Early Psychosis Program, and an Instructor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School.

Rethinking Schizophrenia - New Perspective on Disorders

Matcheri Keshavan | TEDxHopkinton HS Youth

In this fascinating TEDx talk, Matcheri Keshavan challenges the conventional understanding of schizophrenia, arguing that the term itself is both stigmatizing and inaccurate. He proposes a radical shift in how we view the condition, suggesting that schizophrenia should be reimagined as part of a broader spectrum of brain disorders rather than a singular, fixed diagnosis. Keshavan advocates for reconsidering the language surrounding mental health, even proposing the possibility of a new name for the condition, one that reflects its complexity and range of symptoms. Through this rethinking, he hopes to reduce the stigma and encourage a more nuanced, compassionate approach to diagnosis, treatment, and support of those affected by the disorder.

Working with Medical Interpreters: Shifting from Standards of Practice to Intersubjectivity in the Clinical Space

Margaret Lanca
2023 Mass-STEP Conference Day 2

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Optimal Treatment of Psychotic Disorders: Clozapine, Engagement, and Community

Robert Laitmain, MD & Matcheri Keshavan, MD

Hosted by the New England MHTTC

The program describes a novel approach to engaging patients with psychosis and their families. We seek the development of true collaboration. Critical in this approach is establishing a community of individuals with a common interest that provides support for each other. The support allows the treatment team to secure the patient's trust, develop a therapeutic relationship and do the hard work of creating an optimal clozapine regimen. This session will go on to:

• Describe how we develop clozapine regimens that minimize predictable side effects and optimize benefits;

• Share our results in improving patient outcomes.