Differential Trajectories of Delusional Content and Severity Over 2 Years of Early Intervention for Psychosis: Comparison Between Chennai, India, and Montréal, Canada.

Background: There exist few direct studies of delusional content in psychosis across geo-cultural contexts, especially those in which treatment protocols and measures are comparable. To directly examine an illness outcome that is potentially culturally mediated, this study investigated the baseline presentation and longitudinal trajectory of delusions in first-episode psychosis (FEP) across 2 similar treatment settings in Montréal (Canada) and Chennai (India).

Study Design: Patients entering an early intervention program for FEP in Chennai (N = 168) and Montréal (N = 165) were compared on site-level differences in the presentation of delusions across specific time points over 2 years of treatment.

"The more things change…"? Stability of delusional themes across 12 years of presentations to an early intervention service for psychosis.

Purpose: While the prevalence of delusional themes appears to be consistent across geographic contexts, little is known about the relative prevalence of such themes within a given setting over periods of time. We therefore investigated delusional themes across 12 years of presentation to a catchment-based early intervention service for first episode psychosis (FEP).

Methods: Systematically collected data from 500 patients at an early intervention service for FEP were analyzed.

Pragmatic implementation of the Clinical Global Impression Scale of Severity as a tool for measurement-based care in a first-episode psychosis program.

Introduction: Measurement-based care (MBC) is an evidence-based practice wherein clinical decisions are informed by patient data collected throughout treatment. MBC has yielded superior patient outcomes compared to standard care. However, the implementation of MBC in the day-to-day practice, particularly in psychotic disorders, poses several challenges.

Measurement Based Care in a first episode psychosis program: Development of an algorithm of care based on the Clinical Global Impressions Scale.

Introduction: Adherence to therapeutic guidelines in psychiatry is anchored and facilitated by rating scales. However, they are rarely used in routine care, particularly for psychotic disorders. Consequently, adherence to treatment guidelines are not ideal and patient outcomes are often sub-optimal.