Psychosis

First Episode Psychosis

First Episode Psychosis is not as uncommon as many think. It can happen to anyone and we can help. The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois Medical Center is leading the way in the early detection and treatment of First Episode Psychosis. The dedicated team of professionals working in the First Episode program are helping families to understand the illness and provide comprehensive treatment and on-going support and therapies–bring positive outcomes and peace of mind–it is treatable and we can help.

First Episode Psychosis Posters

Treatment and Research Program

The First Episode Program provides psychiatric evaluation and treatment for patients and their family members participating in our research studies of psychotic disorders. The experience of psychosis (such as hearing sounds or voices when nobody is around, becoming unreasonably suspicious or starting to believe things that are not true) is a difficult experience for both patients and their families. Early treatment of psychosis is likely to result in better long-term outcome and faster recovery. Family involvement may also contribute to positive outcomes for the individual.

The First Episode Clinic offers comprehensive individual and family interventions for first-episode psychosis. The program provides comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, individualized treatment plans, individual and family therapy, case management services, medication management, psycho-education groups for patients and families, vocational and living skills training, research participation opportunities, and other services.

Partial Hospitalization Program

This outpatient treatment service is a structured schedule of group therapies, individual sessions and case management. The focus of this program is to help patients manage and decrease their psychiatric symptoms while continuing their daily life at work and home. We encourage the involvement of the family in treating the patient and the education of the patient and family members on the nature of each person's illness, their treatment and ways they can improve their health and functioning

Medication Management

We offer medication management services to monitor patients’ progress on medications that have been prescribed to treat their illness.