Chances for recovery are
greater with timely treatment
Reducing the time it takes for
a person experiencing psychosis to get treatment is the goal of two new mental
health pilot projects in the Twin Cities.
Called Coordinated Specialty
Care, the pilot projects will serve people 15 to 40 years old with early signs
of psychosis. The word “psychosis” is used to describe conditions that affect
the mind when there has been some loss of contact with reality. Psychosis is
treatable, and studies have shown that early treatment increases the chance of
a successful recovery.
“It’s critical that people who
are first experiencing psychosis get the right care quickly,” said Department
of Human Services Commissioner Emily Piper. “This research-based program is an exciting
new approach that will help people when they need it most.”
Three organizations will
receive up to $2.97 million in federal funds through the State of Minnesota. Offering
the new service will be Hennepin County Medical Center with one team and the
University of Minnesota at their Psychiatry Clinic in St. Louis Park with two
teams. Each team can serve up to 30 people.
The third organization
receiving funding, the Minnesota Center for Chemical and Mental Health, will
provide technical support, including training, consultation and community
information sessions.
“The need for treatment for
first episode psychosis is great,” says Piper Meyer-Kalos, principal
investigator and executive director of the Minnesota Center for Chemical and
Mental Health. “Currently, people experiencing psychosis for the first time are
typically waiting well over a year to get treatment.”
Psychosis often begins when a
person is in their late teens to mid-20s but can occur into middle adulthood.
Psychosis can be a symptom of a mental illness such as schizophrenia or caused
by medications, alcohol or drug abuse. Three out of 100 people will experience
psychosis at some time in their lives, and about 100,000 adolescents and young
adults in the U.S. experience first episode psychosis each year.
Coordinated Specialty Care
programs are the result of a 2008 large-scale research project by the National
Institute of Mental Health. Research showed that this care model is more
effective than the usual treatment approaches, treatment is most effective when
received sooner, and treatment for psychosis can be delivered successfully in
the community.
“Our goal is to promote optimal
brain health through innovative treatments, while also supporting the
individual and their family members in all of their psychological needs,” said
Dr. Sophia Vinogradov, head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University
of Minnesota Medical School. “We team up with people experiencing psychosis,
their families and the community to help us determine better and more effective
ways to understand their health needs and to promote their well-being.”
Coordinated Specialty Care uses
a team of specialists who offer psychotherapy, medication management, family
education, coping skills training and education. They may also offer case
management and peer support.
“We provide an important safety
net role for the county and the state. In that role, we often are the first
contact for people having their first episode of psychosis,” said Dr. Marielle
Demarais, clinical psychologist for Hennepin County Medical Center. “Our model
of care seeks to help these individuals live the life they want at work, school,
and with friends and family.”
Funding for the program is
through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
SAMHSA recently required that states set aside 10 percent of their Community
Mental Health Services Block Grant to address these needs.
Symptoms of psychosis may
include:
- Delusions
or false and persistent beliefs that are not part of the individual’s culture.
For example, people with schizophrenia may believe that their thoughts are
being broadcast on the radio.
- Hallucinations
that include hearing, seeing, smelling, or feeling things that others cannot.
People with the disorder may hear voices that talk to them or order them to do
things.
- Disorganized
speech that involves difficulty organizing thoughts, stopping suddenly and
without explanation in the middle of a sentence, and making up nonsensical
words.
- Seeming
extremely disorganized or unaware of their surroundings.
For more information about the Coordinated
Specialty Care program or to learn how to get help, visit: http://mn.gov/dhs/psychosis/
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