A Story of Recovery & Hope

"A BeST Center-affiliated treatment team helped a college student to graduate with an associate’s degree – as the class valedictorian – and to get a "dream job" in his field of study by providing FIRST Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis when he returned to college following hospitalization."

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FIRST Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis

FIRST Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis programs are available throughout Ohio and are committed providing to the best treatment services for individuals experiencing an initial episode of psychotic illness and their families as early in the course of the illness as possible.

Early Signs of Psychosis

Typically, a person will show changes in their behavior before psychosis develops. These changes often occur during adolescence or in young adults. The list might help someone recognize the signs of psychosis:

Worrisome drop in grades or job performance
New trouble thinking clearly or concentrating
Suspiciousness, paranoid ideas or uneasiness with others
Withdrawing socially, spending a lot more time alone than usual
Unusual, overly intense new ideas, strange feelings or having no feelings at all
Decline in self-care or personal hygiene
Difficulty telling reality from fantasy
Confused speech or trouble communicating

Any one of these items by itself may be part of youth and young adult development, however someone with a combination of items on this list should consult with a mental health professional. You may be experiencing symptoms of psychosis which is more common than you think. You are not alone and help is available. A qualified psychologist, a psychiatrist or a trained social worker will be able to make a diagnosis and help develop a treatment plan.

If you notice these changes in behavior and they begin to intensify or do not go away, it is important to seek help. Early treatment of psychosis increases the chance of a successful recovery.

(From RA1SE, Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode, a research project of the National Institute of Mental Health.)

The Treatment

As an outpatient early identification and treatment of psychotic illness programs, FIRST programs are committed to:

rapid access to services;
helping people set and achieve goals for the future;
and involving loved ones in the recovery process.

FIRST treatment services are provided in an integrated manner by an interdisciplinary team which include:

psychiatric care
individual therapy
family education and support
supported employment/education
case management

Early outcomes for individuals participating in FIRST programs are promising: the majority of individuals in the FIRST programs are either working and/or pursuing educational goals full-time or part-time and the rate of re-hospitalization is low.

First Episode Psychosis Project ECHO

A tele-community for Ohio’s Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis team members and other interested Ohio clinicians. A public service offered by the Best Practice for Schizophrenia Treatment (BeST) Center and funded by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health.

For the First Episode Psychosis Project ECHO curriculum, schedule and registration information, please visit this page.

COORDINATED SPECIALTY CARE FOR FIRST Episode Psychosis Programs

Our consultant trainers provide Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis training, consultation, and evaluation on evidence-based practices in psychosis treatment to FIRST Teams throughout Ohio.

If you care for someone experiencing psychosis, it is best to connect with a FIRST Team who can help to manage symptoms and begin recovery.