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Evaluation of a multi-element treatment center for early psychosis in the United States

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Abstract

Purpose

A growing body of research has demonstrated the potential for comprehensive, phase-specific care to improve clinical and functional outcomes in early psychosis. However, there have been no evaluations of such treatment models in the United States (US). This study is a naturalistic, prospective 1-year follow-up of an early psychosis cohort treated in one of the first US-based multi-element treatment centers.

Methods

Participants were 163 individuals treated at the Outreach and Support Intervention Services (OASIS) clinic, a multi-element treatment center for early psychosis. Data were collected as part of routine care at 6-month intervals. Primary outcomes included role functioning and involvement in work or school.

Results

Over the course of 1 year of treatment, individuals experienced significant improvements in positive and negative symptoms, role functioning, and global functioning. The proportion of individuals meeting symptom remission and functional remission criteria increased significantly from baseline to 1 year, as did the proportion of individuals attending school. There were also trend-level reductions in substance abuse.

Conclusions

This study provides preliminary support for the efficacy of comprehensive early intervention services in the US.

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Notes

  1. In cases where individuals were prescribed more than one antipsychotic medication, the lower adherence rating was used.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of the following individuals: Lyse de Bourguignon, LCSW, Brent Moos, LCSW, Dionysios Kakouras, LCSW (OASIS clinicians); Lisa Cooper (OASIS administrative staff); Daniel Bauer, PhD and Christopher Wiesen, PhD (statistical consulting); Lauren Catalano and Sierra Carter (data entry); Charles Thayer and Abby Scheer (data management); Benjamin Buck, Kristin Coconis, Kelsey Ludwig, and Charles Olbert (manuscript editors). Support for OASIS program development has been provided by the Duke Endowment and the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust as well as by NIMH grant R34 1-MH071252-01A1 awarded to DLP, as well as the UNC Department of Psychiatry. This paper was presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, New York, NY (November 19–22, 2009).

Conflict of interest

The authors have no interests to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Sarah R. Uzenoff & David L. Penn

  2. Outreach and Support Intervention Services Program, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    David L. Penn, Karen A. Graham, Sylvia Saade, Barbara B. Smith & Diana O. Perkins

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #7160, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7160, USA

    David L. Penn, Karen A. Graham, Barbara B. Smith & Diana O. Perkins

Authors
  1. Sarah R. Uzenoff
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  2. David L. Penn
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  3. Karen A. Graham
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  4. Sylvia Saade
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  5. Barbara B. Smith
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  6. Diana O. Perkins
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Diana O. Perkins.

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Uzenoff, S.R., Penn, D.L., Graham, K.A. et al. Evaluation of a multi-element treatment center for early psychosis in the United States. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 47, 1607–1615 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-011-0467-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-011-0467-4

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