Psychosis: Being Part of the Continuum of Care

Most clinicians have skills that can be effectively adapted to treat psychosis but, due to stigma, lack of training, and misunderstandings about psychotic disorder, may not feel confident working with clients with psychosis. With the rapid growth in the number of programs offering evidence-based, specialized early intervention for psychosis, known as Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC), comes a tremendous demand for appropriate referrals for individuals who complete these typically time limited programs and have good social and occupational functioning. After passage of the Affordable Care Act, more transition age youth - the usual age of onset for psychosis - are privately insured and not eligible for treatment in public settings where serious mental illnesses are typically treated. This also holds true for a portion of individuals with psychosis who did not receive CSC since severity of psychotic disorders fall on a continuum. A wider variety of clinicians and providers comfortable with treating psychosis is needed. This course aims to help clinicians to develop the skills and confidence to support clients with psychosis in maintaining gains achieved through early intervention.

1 hour CE. Recorded video format (non-interactive)

ESTIMATED COURSE LENGTH: 1.12 hours

CE CREDITS: 1.00 continuing education/contact hours for social workers, psychologists, counselors, and marriage and family therapists

TARGET AUDIENCE: Mental Health Practitioners

LEVEL OF INSTRUCTION: Introductory

PREREQUISITE(S): None

INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD: Recorded video format (non-interactive)

ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS: Closed captioning of audio components. In order to request further accessibility accommodations, please email support@psychhub.com.

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS: To obtain your CE certificate, learners must complete a pre-test (not scored), progress through all course segments, complete a participant evaluation, and obtain a score of 80% or higher on a post-test. Learners are expected to complete the quiz within 3 attempts. If unable to do so, the learner will need to re-review the course segments.

FINANCIAL/COMMERCIAL SUPPORT STATEMENT: This course has no commercial support.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:  This course has no potential conflict of interest or outside commercial support. Psych Hub's conflict of interest statement is found in the footer of the training center.

GRIEVANCE AND REFUND POLICIES: Grievance and refund policies are found in the footer of the training center.

PARTICIPATION COSTS:  The cost to participate in this CE activity is included in the subscription registration fee.

COURSE CREATION DATE: 7/25/2023

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Describe strategies for building referral relationships with Coordinated Specialty Care programs
• Develop best practices in transitions of care for individuals with psychosis
• Outline evidence-based practices for the maintenance phase of psychosis
• Incorporate psychosis specific competencies into existing practice

1. Moving beyond specialty care
   1. Increased availability of early detection and early intervention improving prognosis for individuals with psychosis
   2. Graduates of these programs often need ongoing, maintenance phase treatment - demand growing as numbers of CSC programs increase
   3. Stigma and lack of training common among behavioral health and primary care providers - reluctance to accept referrals of psychotic disorders
   4. Settings that treat chronic serious mental illness (e.g. Community Mental Health Centers) not typically geared toward higher functioning
   5. Most clinicians have necessary skills that can be adapted to effectively treat psychosis
2. Overview of psychosis
1. Effective treatment a matter of life and death - mortality
2. What is psychosis?
3. Common symptoms
4. Myths versus reality
5. Phases of illness and prognosis
6. Effects of early intervention
3. Why clients transition from care
4. Coordinating care with referring CSC team
5. What changes clients may experience - how ongoing care may look different and what elements can be maintained
6. Continuity of care
7. Best practices in continuing care
8. Monitoring for early warning signs and relapse prevention
1. Individualized early warning signs
2. Comprehensive, client generated wellness definition
3. Enlisting natural support
4. Relapse prevention strategies