About Psychosis
Psychosis is characterized as disruptions to a person’s thoughts and perceptions that make it difficult for them to recognize what is real and what isn’t. These disruptions are often experienced as seeing, hearing and believing things that aren’t real or having strange, persistent thoughts, behaviors and emotions.
Psychosis is a symptom, not an illness, and it is more common than you may think. In the U.S., approximately 100,000 young people experience psychosis each year. As many as three in 100 people will have an episode at some point in their lives.
First-episode psychosis (FEP) refers to when a person first shows signs of beginning to lose contact with reality. Acting quickly to connect a person with the right treatment during early psychosis or FEP can be life-changing and radically alter that person’s future.
KNOW THE SIGNS:
These warning signs may signal early psychosis:
• Hearing, seeing, tasting or believing things that others don’t
• Suspiciousness or extreme uneasiness with others
• Persistent, unusual thoughts or beliefs
• Strong and inappropriate emotions or no emotions at all
• Withdrawing from family or friends
• A sudden decline in self-care
• Trouble thinking clearly or concentrating
If you or someone you know is experiencing these warning signs, contact M-Path.
Early action keeps young lives on track.
(NAMI)
What is Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC)
Research has shown significant success using a treatment approach called Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC). CSC uses a team of health professionals and specialists who work with a person to create a personal treatment plan based on life goals while involving family members as much as possible.
Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) in Massachusetts
A comprehensive directory of these programs, including eligibility and referral information, is available on the MAPNET website at www.mapnet.online/program-director
Prevention and Recovery in Early Psychosis (PREP)
The PREP program provides CSC in the context of an intensive outpatient treatment program and milieu. In addition to the core CSC treatment functions, PREP services include multiple psycho-rehabilitation and psychotherapy groups weekly that are focused on supporting recovery and cultivating the power of peer support. In addition to family psycho-education, PREP provides individual and group family therapy.
PREP staff are available to provide in-services to hospitals, community clinics, college counseling centers, and other potential referral sources.
Both PREP programs offer a number of training opportunities for students of psychiatry, psychology, social work, nursing, and other health services.
- PREP West https://www.mapnet.online/prep-west
Massachusetts Psychosis Network for Early Treatment (MAPNET)
MAPNET provides the technical assistance and support necessary to translate scientific knowledge regarding First Episode Psychosis interventions into real-world implementation. MAPNET serves as a state-wide resource for FEP training and FEP program development and support with four overarching priorities:
- IMPLEMENTATION: Monitoring and supporting the implementation of high-quality, recovery-oriented care for first-episode psychosis
- WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: Training and onboarding FEP clinicians to provide evidence-based treatments for psychosis
- RESEARCH & EVALUATION: Organizing assessment data across CSC programs to understand the impact of available treatments and drive continuous quality improvement
- COMMUNITY & COLLABORATION: Creating a collaborative network of early psychosis service providers and stakeholders across MA
MAPNET hosts monthly webinars open to anyone on discrete topics related to FEP interventions. You can join the MAPNET mailing list to receive updates, announcements, and more: http://eepurl.com/g9H3kr
MAPNET also maintains a website that includes information and resources for individuals, families and providers: https://www.mapnet.online/.
Massachusetts Strategic Plan for Early Psychosis (Mass STEP)
The Massachusetts Strategic Plan for Early Psychosis (Mass-STEP) is a document that outlines a set of priorities to create a high-quality system of care for people living with psychosis in Massachusetts. With guidance from experts in the community, including those with first-hand experience of psychosis, we provide evidence-based rationale and guidelines for investing in early intervention for psychosis.
In this document, we use the term “early-course psychosis” to encompass a range of populations and experiences, including individuals with a recent onset of psychosis, those at clinical high risk to develop psychosis, and the families that support these individuals and are themselves impacted by their loved ones’ experience of psychosis. Although early intervention is the priority and focus of this plan, we recognize that a lifespan approach is necessary to support lifelong wellbeing among those experiencing psychosis and their families. We also refer to the BIPOC (black, indigenous, and other people of color) and LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary and queer or questioning) communities as key intersecting groups for whom unique considerations may be needed. Our goal in this document (as clinicians, researchers, public health professionals, and government stakeholders) is to partner with these communities to define priorities for improving statewide resources and services for early-course psychosis.