SYMPOSIA

N. Kozloff, S. Kidd, M. Grossman, S. Archie

Despite the accumulating evidence that early intervention can improve the long-term outcomes of young people with psychosis and even save lives, it is estimated that approximately 30% of young people in early psychosis intervention (EPI) services disengage from treatment prematurely. This symposium will examine service engagement among young people with psychosis across stages of recovery: at discharge from hospitalization, at entry to outpatient services, and in ongoing psychological services. Dr. Sean Kidd will present a recently completed randomized trial of a brief, transitional peer support-delivered intervention called “The Welcome Basket,” focusing on the implications of peer support in enabling enhanced engagement in the critical first weeks after discharge. Dr. Nicole Kozloff will present a survey completed with youth referred to outpatient EPI services and their family members on their perspectives on facilitators, barriers, and solutions to improve their service engagement. Dr. Michael Grossman will present data from an ongoing, open-label trial in a specialized outpatient service for psychosis, examining associations between service engagement and cognitive behavior therapy for psychosis process variables and treatment outcomes. Finally, Dr. Suzanne Archie will draw on her research and clinical experience to facilitate a discussion on what we know about engagement in EPI services and how to ensure young people with psychosis continue to access and benefit from specialized services.