Here is the ideal book for patients experiencing the frightening initial episode of psychosis, which often occurs during late adolescence or early adulthood, and which affects nearly 3% of all people over the course of their lifetime. The book covers a range of disorders, focusing on primary psychotic disorders, clearly describing symptoms, early warning signs, and treatment--information that is essential for patients and families faced with the challenges posed by psychosis. It will help patients and their families to take an active, informed role in their care.

The new edition of this popular handbook has been thoroughly updated to include the latest data concerning treatment of first-episode patients. Drawing from their experience, the authors discuss the presentation and assessment of the first psychotic episode and review the appropriate use of antipsychotic agents and psychosocial approaches in effective management. This is an authoritative text written by a team of highly respected authors for psychiatrists, neurologists, primary care practitioners and health care professional working in psychiatry. Drawing from their experience, the presentation and assessment of the first psychotic episode are discussed, details regarding antipsychotic drugs and their appropriate use are reviewed and psychosocial approaches are examined. The resulting book offers a concise and valuable guide to those wishing to review the latest proposals for the treatment of first-episode psychosis supported by up-to-date references, in a single publication.

"Now in its second edition, The First Episode of Psychosis is the ideal book for young people and their families experiencing the frightening and confusing initial episode of psychosis, which often occurs during late adolescence or early adulthood. The updated edition includes information on specialized early intervention services, going back to school and work, and the latest treatments and medicines. The book covers a range of topics essential for young people and families facing the challenges of psychosis. Topics covered include early warning signs, symptoms, types of primary psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and schizophreniform disorder, evaluation, treatment, and healthy lifestyle choices. Worksheets helps readers to track and better understand their own experiences, and to openly communicate with care providers. An extensive glossary clarifies the dizzying array of terms used by medical professionals. Optimistic, practical, and recovery-oriented, The First Episode of Psychosis will help young people and their families take an active, informed role in their care as they take steps towards achieving their goals"--

The First Episode of Psychosis is the ideal book for patients experiencing the frightening and confusing initial episode of psychosis, which often occurs during late adolescence or early adulthood, and which affects nearly 3% of all people over the course of their lifetime. The book covers a range of disorders, focusing on primary psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and schizophreniform disorder, clearly describing symptoms, early warning signs, and treatment--information that is essential for patients and families faced with the challenges posed by psychosis. The book also discusses psychiatric evaluation, healthy lifestyle choices, and the stigma often associated with mental illnesses. Worksheets allow readers to keep records of symptoms to facilitate communication with care providers, and an extensive glossary clarifies the dizzying array of terms used by medical professionals. Optimistic, practical, and recovery-oriented, The First Episode of Psychosis will help patients and their families to take an active, informed role in their care to ensure the best possible prognosis.

Despite years of research, debate and changes in mental health policy, there is still a lack of consensus as to what recovery from psychosis actually means, how it should be measured and how it may ultimately be achieved. In Recovering from a First Episode of Psychosis: An Integrated Approach to Early Intervention, it is argued that recovery from a first episode of psychosis (FEP) is comprised of three core elements: symptomatic, social and personal. Moreover, all three types of recovery need to be the target of early intervention for psychosis programmes (EIP) which provide evidence-based, integrated, bio-psychosocial interventions delivered in the context of a value base offering hope, empowerment and a youth-focused approach. Over the 12 chapters in the book, the authors, all experienced clinicians and researchers from multi-professional backgrounds, demonstrate that long-term recovery needs to replace short term remission as the key target of early psychosis services and that, to achieve this, we need a change in the way we deliver EIP: one that takes account of the different stages of psychosis and the ‘bespoke’ targeting of integrated medical, psychological and social treatments during the ‘critical period’. Illustrated with a wealth of clinical examples, this book will be of great interest to clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses and other associated mental health professionals.

A first episode of psychosis is confusing and frightening for those who experience it, and for their family and friends. This distress is heightened when those involved don't understand what is happening, and what can be done to help. This brief and helpful guide outlines the symptoms, phases, causes, different types and the treatment of psychosis. This knowledge can help to increase understanding, and to promote recovery.

This guide contains a foreword and five chapters. The chapters are modular and do not need to be read in order. Each chapter is designed to be brief and accessible to health care providers, health care system administrators, community members, and others working to meet the needs of individuals at risk for, experiencing, or recovering from a substance use disorder and/or mental illness. The goal of this guide is to review the literature on treating substance misuse and substance use disorders in the context of first-episode psychosis, distill the research into recommendations for practice, and provide examples of the ways that these recommendations can be implemented by first-episode psychosis treatment programs.

This book offers a new approach to understanding and treating psychotic symptoms using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT for Psychosis shows how this approach clears the way for a shift away from a biological understanding and towards a psychological understanding of psychosis. Stressing the important connection between mental illness and mental health, further topics of discussion include: the assessment and formulation of psychotic symptoms how to treat psychotic symptoms using CBT CBT for specific and co-morbid conditions CBT of bipolar disorders. This book brings together international experts from different aspects of this fast developing field and will be of great interest to all mental health professionals working with people suffering from psychotic symptoms.

Can severe mental illness be prevented by early intervention? Mental illness is highly prevalent in the general population and has its onset mostly in adolescence and young adulthood. Early intervention usually leads to improved prognosis. This book describes a newly developed, evidence based cognitive behavioural intervention that can be used by clinicians to treat the precursor symptoms of psychosis and other severe mental illness. CBT for those at risk of a First Episode Psychosis offers a detailed new psychotherapy that has been shown to reduce the chance of transition to a first psychotic episode and to improve the chance for recovery. This encompasses: Psycho-education about prepsychotic symptoms A review of literature about psychological processes that are known to play a role in the development of psychosis A comprehensive manual – illustrated by numerous clinical vignettes - that can be used to treat help-seeking subjects with an increased risk of developing psychosis. Links to online resources and exercises to be used in therapy and education. A description of the multicentre randomized clinical trial investigating this new psychotherapy. The vast collective experience and expertise of the authors of this handbook results in an invaluable text for clinicians working in mental health care, as well as students, lecturers and researchers who have an interest in the prevention of schizophrenia and other severe mental illness.