University of Chicago
This study is testing a new approach to help people with first episode psychosis transition successfully from the hospital to outpatient mental health care. Many patients lose contact with services after they leave the hospital, which can lead to worse outcomes. The investigators have developed a Transition Care Team (TCT) that works with patients while they are in the hospital and continues to support them after discharge. The team provides therapy, case management, and coordination with community programs that offer ongoing care. The main goal of the study is to find out if this new program increases the number of patients who successfully begin outpatient treatment after hospitalization, compared to usual care. The investigators will also look at whether the program improves symptoms, functioning, and overall well-being.
For individuals experiencing the onset of a psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia, the period of time around their first hospitalization and subsequent stabilization in outpatient care is a critical juncture for establishing the trajectory of their recovery. Engaging early and consistently in care not only yields more rapid stabilization of symptoms, but it is also associated with improved long-term prognosis and better quality of life. In recent years, the field has focused on developing a gold standard outpatient treatment model for individuals experiencing their first episode of psychosi…
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder with psychotic features, major depressive disorder with psychotic features, schizophreniform disorder, or psychosis NOS * The diagnosis of one of the psychotic disorders has a duration of less than two years. * Able to read, speak, and understand English, which will be assessed through observation. * Able and willing to provide written informed consent or assent, in cases where caregivers are considered legal guardians. Dr. Shima, co-I of the study, is a forensic psychiatrist, and particularly adept a…
The novel intervention is the Transition Care Team (TCT), a multidisciplinary clinical support model designed to improve continuity of care for individuals experiencing a first episode of psychosis. The TCT provides short-term post-discharge services, including psychoeducation, case management, peer support, and coordination with outpatient programs until participants are established in Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC). This differs from standard care, where patients typically receive discharge referrals without structured follow-up. The intervention itself uses evidence-based clinical practices but applies them in a new, transitional format for this population, which is not currently part of standard inpatient-to-outpatient care at UChicago or Ingalls.
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