Early Intervention for Psychosis: The Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode Project

First-episode psychosis (FEP) is a traumatic event that often foreshadows a schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis. FEP treatment responsiveness depends on rapid initiation of care, but substantial delays between the onset of psychosis and effective antipsychotic intervention are common. In 2008, the National Institute of Mental Health launched the Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE) initiative to develop and test coordinated specialty care (CSC)—a team-based, multicomponent treatment program for FEP—in “real world” US community clinics. RAISE demonstrates that mental health professionals from various disciplines can be trained to deliver CSC and that the approach significantly improves symptoms and functioning for patient's with FEP. Furthermore, clinical impact is greater when treatment is initiated soon after psychosis onset. With recent federal legislation, the number of CSC programs in the US is growing rapidly. A national learning health care network among US early psychosis clinics will further align science and clinical practice in early psychosis. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2015;45(11):548–553.]