Early intervention in the prevention and treatment of psychotic disorders

Early intervention in psychiatry is a comprehensive therapeutic approach with a preventive component, which advocates a systematic and early application of all available and effective therapeutic methods in the initial phase of psychotic disorders in order to achieve and maintain a complete remission and overall clinical and social recovery. The early intervention program for the first episode of psychotic disorder (Rana intervencija kod prvih epizoda psihotičnih poremećaja – RIPEPP) in “Sveti Ivan” Psychiatric Hospital in Zagreb is intended for patients hospitalized for different psychotic disorders in the “critical period” of the disorder within the five years of the first onset of symptoms. The RIPEPP program consists of inpatient and outpatient treatment, including psychotherapy and psychoeducational components in combination with psychopharmacotherapy. Psychotherapeutic part, led by a group psychotherapist, consists of psychodynamic group psychotherapy for patients and psychodynamic group therapy for their family members, while psychoeducational part, led by cognitive-behavioral therapists, is carried out in the form of joint interactive educational workshops for patients and their family members. 

Key words:
an outpatient program; early intervention; group psychotherapy; prevention; psychoeducation; psychopharmacotherapy; psychotic disorders