Integrated Treatment Model for First-Contact Patients with a Schizophrenia-Type Psychosis: The Finnish API Project

This paper presents the background, rationale, set-up and first results of the Finnish API study, whose aim was to investigate the use of a psychotherapeutically oriented and family-centred treatment model for acute psychosis in different treatment settings, and especially the role of neuroleptic drug treatment when working along the principles of the integrated treatment model. Six psychiatric catchment areas from different parts of the country participated by collecting a material of 136 first-contact patients with a schizophrenia-type psychosis. More than half of the patients received a formal diagnosis from the schizophrenia group at the initial examination, and more than one-third a diagnosis of reactive or atypical psychosis. In the treatment plans for the patients, the psychosocial modes of treatment dominated, especially the family therapeutic methods. Neuroleptic drug treatment was recommended for only 40% of the patients, and for one-fourth no psychotropic drugs at all.