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The Graduated Recovery Intervention Program for First Episode Psychosis: Treatment Development and Preliminary Data

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Abstract

The Graduated Recovery Intervention Program (GRIP) is a novel cognitive-behavioral therapy program designed to facilitate functional recovery in people who have experienced an initial episode of psychosis. In this paper, the treatment development process of GRIP is described and data from an open feasibility trial are presented. Findings suggest clinical and psychosocial benefits associated with GRIP, and the treatment was well-received by clients and therapists. The retention rate of 67%, however, suggests the need for protocol modifications to improve engagement. Initial data on the efficacy of GRIP are encouraging, although the study design precludes more robust conclusions at this time.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the clients, clinicians, and researchers who have contributed to the development and evaluation of GRIP. We also acknowledge the assistance of Sarah Uzenoff, M.A., who conducted analyses on pilot data, Robert Hamer, Ph.D. and Abby Scheer for providing data management services, Johanna Boobas, LCSW, Abigail Judge, M.A., Brent Moos, LCSW, Jennifer Nieri, LCSW, and Lyse DeBourguignon, LCSW, for serving as GRIP therapists, Marianne Livingston, LCSW, for conducting study assessments, and Bebe Smith, LCSW and Sylvia Saade, Ph.D., for their administrative support at STEP and OASIS. Support for the development of GRIP has been provided by NIMH grant R34 1-MH071252-01A1 awarded to DLP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Davie Hall, CB # 3270, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3270, USA

    Evan J. Waldheter & David L. Penn

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Diana O. Perkins, Leanne Whaley Owens & Elizabeth Cook

  3. Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH, USA

    Kim T. Mueser

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  1. Evan J. Waldheter
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Correspondence to David L. Penn.

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Waldheter, E.J., Penn, D.L., Perkins, D.O. et al. The Graduated Recovery Intervention Program for First Episode Psychosis: Treatment Development and Preliminary Data. Community Ment Health J 44, 443–455 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-008-9147-6

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