Beth Broussard - The First Episode of Psychosis

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Oxford University Press 2021

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Broussard, Beth, author. | Compton, Michael T., author.

Title: The first episode of psychosis : a guide for young people and their

families / Beth Broussard., Michael T. Compton

Description: Revised and Updated edition. | New York, NY : Oxford University Press,

[2021] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020026338 (print) | LCCN 2020026339 (ebook) |

ISBN 9780190920685 (paperback) | ISBN 9780190920708 (epub) |

ISBN 9780197542514

Subjects: LCSH: PsychosesPopular works.

Classification: LCC RC512 .C58 2021 (print) | LCC RC512 (ebook) |

DDC 616.89dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020026338

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020026339

10.1093/med/9780190920685.001.0001

The weeks and months during and following an initial episode of psychosis can be incredibly challenging, and also frightening, for young people, their families, and their broader social networks. During this period, access to reliable, up-to-date information is critical. This is exactly what this book provides: accurate and helpful information, resources, and support. The book educates readers about the symptoms of psychosis and how they are defined, the meaning of different diagnoses, and what the latest science tells us about underlying causes and effective treatments. Material covered includes the initial evaluation of psychosis, advances in the area of early intervention services, and information on evidence-based medications and psychosocial treatments. Importantly, chapters also provide practical advice on treatment engagement, relapse prevention, physical health and well-being, returning to school or work, and effective communication.

Since the first edition, much has changed in the treatment of first-episode psychosis. Specialized early intervention programs are now available in virtually every U.S. state, and in many parts of the world. These programs are team-based, recovery-focused, infused with shared decision-making, and centered around the young persons and familys own goals. The worksheets in this bookand the entire book itselfare designed to increase young peoples and family members knowledge and confidence, in turn strengthening communication with mental health professionals.

A fundamental message of this book is that treatment is effective and recovery is possible. I say that with confidence in part because I have been there: experiencing early psychosis, benefiting from specialized early intervention services, and now living a rich, and in many ways very normal, life. Early in the course of psychosis it is of course easy to feel overwhelmed and hopeless; I encourage readers to always remain hopeful. While the challenges are real, thousands of young people in recovery, pursuing their goals, attest to the fact that challenges can be overcome. What can easily seem like a dead end in hindsight turns out to have been just a bend in the road. On that road, this book and the recovery-oriented supports it describes are a powerful resource on the journey to recovery.

Internationally, thousands of studies on psychosis are published every year. In this book, Beth Broussard and Michael Compton have distilled this science to what young people and families most need to know. Of course, mental health professionals will also share information tailored to individual situations, but the information contained in this book provides a comprehensive foundation regarding what we know about the causes, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of psychosis, and guidance on getting back on track. There are certainly still many things we dont fully understand about psychosis, but the field has made many important advances in the past decade and continues to move forward. This updated second edition reflects what we know and helps support the recovery process.

Nev Jones, PhD,

Assistant Professor, Morsani College of Medicine,

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences,

University of South Florida,

Tampa, FL, USA

While the questions that open Chapter 1often asked by young people experiencing psychosis and their familiesmight be the same as those from more than a decade ago when the first edition of this book was published, the answers have evolved. Treatment is getting better. Hope is more pertinent than ever before. Recovery and a full life are now achieved by many more people facing a first episode of psychosis. In this second edition, we share the latest information that we think will help you most effectively deal with this difficult situation. We have again aimed to provide readers with a complete guide explaining everything you need to know during this critical time of initial evaluation and treatment.

We often use the terms first episode of psychosis, first-episode psychosis, and early psychosis. They refer to the initial period of experiencing symptoms and the mental health evaluation and treatment for this episode of psychosis. Some individuals will go on to experience further episodes of psychosis, in which case the use of the term first episode is truly warranted. However, we do not mean to suggest that everyone who has a first episode of psychosis will necessarily go on to have future episodes. For some people, the symptoms clear up with treatment and they achieve long-term remission and recovery without later episodes.

We want to provide you with the information that you need to begin a path toward recovery or to go about helping your loved one embrace recovery. We invite you to read this book and gather from it whatever information is helpful to you. The book is divided into three parts, each one building on the next as you learn more about the first episode of psychosis. Important terms are shown in bold and definitions for each of these words are included in the glossary at the end of the book. We also invite you to visit a straightforward companion website for additional resources, including printable versions of the worksheets found in the book. Visit: www.oup.com/firstepisodepsychosis.

Hope and optimism for recovery are warranted, especially given the growing availability of specialty care. However, our optimism is balanced by a deep recognition of how serious the first episode of psychosis is. We strongly encourage young people and families to seek evaluation and treatment as soon as possible; to work together with experienced, specialized mental health professionals; and to stick with treatment. Through collaboration with experts in the treatment of psychosis, young people with psychosis and their families have the best chance to move beyond psychosis and toward recovery.