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Shah JL, Paquin V, McIlwaine SV, Malla AK, Joober R, Pruessner M. Examining the psychobiological response to acute social stress across clinical stages and symptom trajectories in the early psychosis continuum. Dev Psychopathol 2024; 36:774-786. [PMID: 36852607 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579423000056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
The stress-vulnerability model has been repeatedly highlighted in relation to the risk, onset and course of psychosis, and has been independently studied in clinical high-risk (CHR) and first-episode psychosis (FEP) populations. Notable in this literature, however, is that there are few studies directly comparing markers of stress response across progressive stages of illness. Here we examined the psychobiological response to the Trier Social Stress Test in 28 CHR (mean age 19.1) and 61 FEP (age 23.0) patients, in order to understand the stage(s) or trajectories in which differences in subjective stress or physiological response occur. The overall clinical sample had greater perceived stress and blunted cortisol (FEP + CHR, n = 89, age 21.7) compared with healthy controls (n = 45, age 22.9). Additional analyses demonstrated elevated heart rate and systolic blood pressure in FEP compared with CHR, but there were no further differences in physiological parameters (cortisol, heart rate, or blood pressure) between stage- or trajectory-based groups. Together, this suggests that individual stress response markers may differentially emerge at particular stages en route to psychosis - and demonstrates how stage-based analyses can shed light on the emergence and evolution of neurobiological changes in mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jai L Shah
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Vincent Paquin
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Sarah V McIlwaine
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Ashok K Malla
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Ridha Joober
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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Lundin NB, Blouin AM, Cowan HR, Moe AM, Wastler HM, Breitborde NJK. Identification of Psychosis Risk and Diagnosis of First-Episode Psychosis: Advice for Clinicians. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2024; 17:1365-1383. [PMID: 38529082 PMCID: PMC10962362 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s423865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Early detection of psychotic-spectrum disorders among adolescents and young adults is crucial, as the initial years after psychotic symptom onset encompass a critical period in which psychosocial and pharmacological interventions are most effective. Moreover, clinicians and researchers in recent decades have thoroughly characterized psychosis-risk syndromes, in which youth are experiencing early warning signs indicative of heightened risk for developing a psychotic disorder. These insights have created opportunities for intervention even earlier in the illness course, ideally culminating in the prevention or mitigation of psychosis onset. However, identification and diagnosis of early signs of psychosis can be complex, as clinical presentations are heterogeneous, and psychotic symptoms exist on a continuum. When a young person presents to a clinic, it may be unclear whether they are experiencing common, mild psychotic-like symptoms, early warning signs of psychosis, overt psychotic symptoms, or symptoms better accounted for by a non-psychotic disorder. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to provide a framework for clinicians, including those who treat non-psychotic disorders and those in primary care settings, for guiding identification and diagnosis of early psychosis within the presenting clinic or via referral to a specialty clinic. We first provide descriptions and examples of first-episode psychosis (FEP) and psychosis-risk syndromes, as well as assessment tools used to diagnose these conditions. Next, we provide guidance as to the differential diagnosis of conditions which have phenotypic overlap with psychotic disorders, while considering the possibility of co-occurring symptoms in which case transdiagnostic treatments are encouraged. Finally, we conclude with an overview of early detection screening and outreach campaigns, which should be further optimized to reduce the duration of untreated psychosis among youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy B Lundin
- Early Psychosis Intervention Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Alexandra M Blouin
- Early Psychosis Intervention Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Henry R Cowan
- Early Psychosis Intervention Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Aubrey M Moe
- Early Psychosis Intervention Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Heather M Wastler
- Early Psychosis Intervention Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Nicholas J K Breitborde
- Early Psychosis Intervention Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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Millman ZB, West ML, Thibeau H, Sanders AS, Guyer M, Keshavan M, Lilly M, Friedman-Yakoobian M, Woodberry KA, Johnson KA, Kline ER. Changes in community providers' screening behaviours, referral practices, and clinical confidence following participation in an early psychosis educational campaign. Early Interv Psychiatry 2022; 16:744-751. [PMID: 34532946 PMCID: PMC10591393 DOI: 10.1111/eip.13215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIM Successful delivery of care to individuals with early psychosis depends on the ability of community providers to identify and refer appropriate candidates for services. Although specialty centres commonly rely upon education and outreach campaigns to building bridges with community providers, few studies have examined the effectiveness of these campaigns or the mechanisms by which they may achieve their intended effects. METHODS We surveyed community clinicians (N = 39) about their screening behaviours, referral practices, and confidence in managing early psychosis just before and 3-6 months after attending an educational event designed to promote recognition and quality treatment of early psychosis. RESULTS Three to six months following attendance, providers reported screening a greater proportion of clients for early psychosis, referring a greater number of clients to specialty services, and feeling more confident in their ability to respond to clients with early psychosis. Increases in confidence following attendance were associated with corresponding increases in screening behaviour. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that outreach campaigns designed to enhance community providers' knowledge about early psychosis assessment and resources may be effective in promoting screening, referrals, and confidence in managing psychosis. Gains in provider confidence may contribute to increases in screening. Given the lack of control group and relatively short follow-up period, more research is needed to determine the effects of early psychosis educational events and the mechanisms by which they may promote successful treatment delivery for young people in need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary B. Millman
- Psychotic Disorders Division, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michelle L. West
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Heather Thibeau
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - A. Simone Sanders
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Margaret Guyer
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matcheri Keshavan
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Megan Lilly
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michelle Friedman-Yakoobian
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kristen A. Woodberry
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Center for Psychiatric Research, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Tufts School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kelsey A. Johnson
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Emily R. Kline
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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McIlwaine SV, Shah J. Mental Health Services Research Targeting the Clinical High-Risk State for Psychosis: Lessons, Future Directions and Integration with Patient Perspectives. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2021; 23:11. [PMID: 33533984 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-021-01224-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We summarize the history of the clinical high-risk stage of psychosis (CHR), current research on this stage and recent critiques of the field, and evaluate current CHR guidelines and frameworks. RECENT FINDINGS Following its identification and characterization, CHR services have successfully been developed in North America, Europe, Australia and elsewhere. As reflected in guidelines, these services and their orientation largely emerged as an outgrowth of the framework pioneered by early intervention services for first-episode psychosis. We critically discuss what is known so far about the subjective experience of the CHR syndrome, the meaning of this "unofficial" diagnosis as well as what is known and unknown about the service-related needs. While a range of outstanding questions remain in the field, there is a particular need for patient-oriented work and to investigate the service-related needs of young people at CHR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah V McIlwaine
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Prevention and Early Intervention Programme for Psychosis (PEPP-Montreal), Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 7070 boul. Champlain, Verdun, Montreal, QC, H4H 1A8, Canada
| | - Jai Shah
- Prevention and Early Intervention Programme for Psychosis (PEPP-Montreal), Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 7070 boul. Champlain, Verdun, Montreal, QC, H4H 1A8, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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McIlwaine S, Fuhrer R, Shah JL. Moving From Islands of Order to a Sea of Chaos: Transitions out of Early Intervention Services for Psychosis. Psychiatr Serv 2020; 71:514-515. [PMID: 32354304 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.202000150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah McIlwaine
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (all authors) and Department of Psychiatry (McIlwaine, Shah), McGill University, Montreal
| | - Rebecca Fuhrer
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (all authors) and Department of Psychiatry (McIlwaine, Shah), McGill University, Montreal
| | - Jai L Shah
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (all authors) and Department of Psychiatry (McIlwaine, Shah), McGill University, Montreal
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