Corinne Cather, PhD and Cheryl Foo, PhD
“The Importance of Intervening Early and Intervening Well in First Episode Psychosis: Our progress in Massachusetts”
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Description of presentation
The current standard of care for the first episode population is coordinated specialty care (CSC), comprised of a multidisciplinary treatment team that delivers psychopharmacology, psychoeducation, cognitively behaviorally oriented individual and family therapy, and supported employment and educational services.
Compared to usual care, CSC models of treatment lead to superior recovery from a first episode of psychosis (FEP) both for symptoms and improved overall functioning, however, outcomes are better for those with shorter duration of untreated psychosis, underscoring the importance of early detection and intervention. This talk will provide an overview of CSC and its key outcomes and describe current efforts to expand the availability of high quality CSC to individuals in Massachusetts.
Bio of presenter
Corinne Cather, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a Clinical Psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). She directs the MGH Center of Excellence for Psychosocial and Systemic Research, which is funded by the MA Department of Mental Health, and is the Director of Psychological Services for the MGH Psychosis Clinical and Research Program.
Her research centers on the design and implementation of evidence-based psychosocial treatments for individuals with first episode psychosis as well as those with longer histories of illness, including interventions to promote physical health. She provides therapy to individuals and families in the MGH First Episode and Early Psychosis Program as well as second opinion diagnosis and treatment recommendations for individuals with longer histories of illness.
She recently co-authored a book, Facing Serious Mental Illness: A guide for patients and their families, intended to improve knowledge, illness management skills, and quality of life for clients and families coping with illnesses like schizophrenia. The book can be read for free on the publisher’s website.