The First Episode of Psychosis: A Guide for Young People and Their Families

A practical and comprehensive resource for loved ones and young adults experiencing an episode of psychosis for the first time.

Psychosis often first occurs in late adolescence or early adulthood - an exciting but often tumultuous time of role transitions and challenging new opportunities such as college and employment. An episode of psychosis can be frightening for those undergoing it, and for their loved ones, and navigating through evaluation, treatment, and recovery can be a stressful and isolating experience.

The fully updated and revised edition of The First Episode of Psychosis is aimed at young people and their families experiencing the frightening and confusing initial episode of psychosis. The book covers a range of topics essential for those faced with the challenges posed by psychosis, including early warning signs, symptoms, types of disorders such as schizophrenia and schizophreniform disorder, evaluation, treatment, and healthy lifestyle choices. This new edition offers expanded coverage of specialized early intervention services, going back to school and work, and the latest psychosocial treatments and medicines. Worksheets help readers to track and better understand their own experiences, and facilitate open communication with care providers, while 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 to take an active, informed role in their care as they take steps towards recovery and achieving their goals.

Beth Broussard, MPH, CHES, is an Associate Academic Research Scientist at Emory University School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She also serves as a Program Manager for the ARROW (Achieving Recovery through Resilience, Optimism, and Wellness) early intervention program for psychosis at Grady Health System in Atlanta, Georgia. As a health educator, Ms. Broussard has developed a series of visually-based psychoeducational booklets, tested anti-stigma messaging, developed curriculums for law enforcement education, and led clinic-based health education and psychoeducation services for participants and their families. She has also helped to develop and lead specialized early intervention services for adolescents and young adults experiencing a first episode of psychosis both in New York City and in Atlanta.

Michael T. Compton, MD, MPH, is Professor of Psychiatry at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons. He is also Research Psychiatrist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Dr. Compton has maintained continuous NIMH research funding for more than 15 years, conducting research on first-episode psychosis, the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model of collaboration between law enforcement and mental health, a linkage system between police officers and the local mental health system, and the effectiveness of a new form of recovery-oriented community navigation for persons with serious mental illnesses and repeated hospitalizations.