Optimizing Mental Health Treatment for Emerging Adults with First-Episode Psychosis

A Scoping and Systematic Review of Employment Processes and Outcomes for Young Adults Experiencing Psychosis

Young adults who experience psychosis want to work but are less likely to be employed than their peers. Sixty two studies relating to young adults with psychosis and employment were reviewed following a systematic search of five databases: CINAHL, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, SCOPUS and EMBASE. Publication date ranged from 1973 to 2019 with > 70% between 2010 and 2019. Intervention was considered in 29 papers; critical appraisal revealed 90% of these had moderate to good methodological quality with only three RCTs. Of 11 intervention types "Early Intervention" and "Individual Placement and Support" were most common; both demonstrating positive impact on obtaining employment. The review identified minimal participant perspectives and great variability in: terminology used; the reporting of participant attributes; intervention characteristics and ways employment outcomes were measured. Employment processes identified were preparing for, seeking, obtaining, keeping and re-obtaining employment, with current research efforts focused on obtaining work. More focus is required on keeping and re-obtaining employment.

Risk Factors for Deliberate Self-harm and Suicide Among Adolescents and Young Adults With First-Episode Psychosis

Little is known about the risk factors for deliberate self-harm (DSH) and suicide among adolescents and young adults with first episode psychosis (FEP) and the longitudinal course of DSH following the initial onset of illness. This study identifies risk factors for DSH and suicide death among Medicaid-covered adolescents and young adults with FEP along with the periods of greatest risk for DSH after diagnosis. A retrospective longitudinal cohort analysis was performed using Medicaid claims data merged with death certificate data for 19 422 adolescents and young adults (aged 15-24 years) diagnosed with the onset of FEP between 2010 and 2017. DSH per 1000 person-years and standardized mortality rates for suicide were determined. Hazard ratios of DSH and suicide were estimated by Cox proportional hazard models. During follow-up, 2148 (11.1%) individuals had at least one self-harm event and 22 (0.1%) died by suicide. The hazards of DSH were significantly higher for those with a previous DSH, suicidal ideation, child abuse and neglect, comorbid medical and psychiatric diagnoses, and prior mental health care. The median follow-up time for those who had DSH was 208.0 days (SD: 526.5 days) in adolescents and 108.0 days (SD: 340.0 days) in young adults. Risk of DSH was highest in the first 3 months following FEP. Individuals with FEP are at high risk for self-harm and suicidal behavior, and recognition of who among these individuals and when following illness onset they are at greatest risk may guide more precise clinical recognition and intervention.

Uncontrolled trial of specialized, multi-component care for individuals with first-episode psychosis: Effects on motivation orientations

AIM

Deficits in motivation are present early in the course of psychotic disorders. However, growing data have highlighted important heterogeneity in motivation among individuals with psychosis, suggesting that this variable may not be a unitary concept. Outside of the psychosis literature, research on self-determination theory has identified three motivational orientations that guide the initiation and regulation of behaviour: autonomous, controlled and impersonal. Thus, our study goal is to investigate the longitudinal course of motivational orientations among individuals participating in a specialized clinical service for individuals with first-episode psychosis (ie, coordinated specialty care: CSC).

METHODS

Forty-one individuals with first-episode psychosis participating in CSC completed assessments of motivation orientations at enrolment and after 6 months of care.

RESULTS

Whereas there were no changes in controlled or impersonal orientations over the first 6-months of care, individuals with first-episode psychosis reported an increase in autonomous orientations. Moreover, while individuals with first-episode psychosis reported lower autonomous orientations at enrolment as compared to individuals without psychosis, after 6 months of care, ratings of autonomous orientations among individuals with first-episode psychosis were equivalent to those of individuals without psychosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the results should be interpreted cautiously given the uncontrolled study design, the results suggest that the benefits of participation in early intervention services for psychosis may extend to improvements in motivation.