Critical Time Intervention With Persons Experiencing First-Episode Psychosis

Abstract

Abstract This chapter focuses on an adaptation of the Critical Time Intervention (CTI) model for young people who have been psychiatrically hospitalized for their first time with a diagnosis of primary psychotic disorder. It first provides a brief overview of the recent literature on specialized early interventions for first-episode psychosis (FEP). It highlights the importance of early identification and linkage to such services to reduce disability in young people who have been recently diagnosed. It then describes how the CTI model is utilized with this population, locating it within the context of a public mental health framework that targets early identification and linkage. Finally, it presents initial findings regarding implementation and considers the model’s potential to further inform services and treatments for the FEP population.