Adolescents at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis

This is the first specific, age-appropriate treatment manual for minor patients at clinical high risk (CHR). The aim of preventing schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders has led researchers to focus on early identification of individuals at CHR for psychosis and to treat the at risk symptoms. Even though young patients with at-risk symptoms may benefit most from specialised treatment approaches, the evidence base required to guide effective interventions for adolescents at CHR is limited. At-risk symptoms typically appear during adolescence and young adulthood, which is a very sensitive developmental period, and the CHR rate is associated with increased functional impairment. Age-appropriate treatment approaches based on youth- specific interests and addressing the complex symptomatology, associated burden and reduced functioning are necessary. At the same time, symptoms and functioning vary greatly in the CHR population, which means that individualized adaptive treatment approaches are required.

This book presents a specialised, integrated psychotherapeutic program for CHR-adolescents. The approach comprises individual therapy, family sessions and a smartphone application to support patients between sessions. Focusing on at-risk and comorbid symptoms as well as improving quality of life, self-efficacy and daily functioning, the therapy modules are based on treatment strategies used in CHR adults and recommendations for adolescents with first episodes of psychosis, and follow the European Association for Psychiatry's guidance on early intervention in CHR-states of psychosis.

The treatment modules also draw on existing concepts of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which is currently the most widely approved early psychological intervention in psychosis and recommended by the EPA. Additionally, the treatment modules include aspects of systemic therapy that have been found to be efficacious in the treatment of psychosis in adult patients, and which show promising results in initial studies on adolescents with psychosis and CHR adolescents.