Early Psychosis Care - Live Webinar

The lifetime prevalence of a psychotic disorder is around 4% of the population. And it is well established that early intervention after a first episode of psychosis is both clinically effective and cost-effective.

In fact, major efforts have been underway in the US to establish early psychosis programs. The number of coordinated specialty care programs grew from about 59 in 2014 to an estimated 381 programs in 2022, operating in all 50 states.

Broad best practices are well established, including early intervention services, family interventions, and pharmacotherapy, along with attention to physical health. But how these get implemented varies from location to location.

In today’s episode, we’ll learn from the program manager at a community-based early psychosis program, Nuriya Hefron. She’ll share what she has learned from service users about the lived experience of early psychosis, how she incorporates OT in assessment and treatment, and what role she sees for the OT community more broadly in helping to identify early warning signs and connect people to care.

1. You will be able to describe how occupational therapists can contribute to assessment in early psychosis programs.

2. You will be able to identify occupational therapy treatment approaches used in early psychosis care.

Intro (5 minutes)

Discussion (40 minutes)

1. Tell me your story of how you became involved in Psychosis Care?

2. How do you describe psychosis and what trajectory it sets people on?

3. Why is early intervention important? & can we intervene when there are initial warning signs?

4. Can you describe the psychosis program you work in & how is your program similar and different from similar programs across the country?

5. What is the role of OT in assessment in your program?

6. What is the role OT in treatment in your program?

7. What education is delivered regarding relapse?

8. How are families and support systems involved in your program?

9. For OTs working with the general population how can help identify those at risk of psychosis, help identify early symptoms and connect people with the care they need?

10. What would you like to see for the future of OTs role in early psychosis.

Live Q&A (5-10 min)

Closing (5 min)

• Occupational Therapy in the Treatment of Early Psychosis: a Scoping Review

• Critical components of ‘Early Intervention in Psychosis’: national retrospective cohort study

• Comparing interventions for early psychosis: a systematic review and component network meta-analysis

• Management of First-Episode Psychosis and Schizophrenia (SCZ) (2023) - VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guidelines

• Psychosocial Management of First-Episode Psychosis and Schizophrenia: Synopsis of the US Department of Veterans Affairs and US Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guidelines

• Early psychosis treatments 30 years on: Early intervention for a new generation

It is the policy of OT Potential to disclose any financial and non-financial interest the provider or instructor may have in a product or service mentioned during an activity. This is to ensure that the audience is made aware of any bias of the speaker.

OT Potential pays guest speakers an honorarium for their participation, either directly or to an institution of the speaker’s choosing at their request. We invite guests whose expertise often comes from practices, programs, or building products in their field. Where a speaker has a financial interest in the subject of a course, we disclose it below so you can weigh it for yourself.

OT Potential’s interest in this topic: We have no financial stake in this topic.

Speaker interests: Nuriya Hefron is program manager for INSPIRE 360, an early psychosis program run by Stanford Health Care and the Stanford School of Medicine. The program is discussed in this course. She speaks in her personal capacity as an occupational therapist; her views are her own and do not represent those of Stanford Health Care or Stanford University.