Early Psychosis Treatment Program is a short-term crisis stabilization program for people ages 15-30 who are experiencing their first episode of psychosis—a symptom associated with psychotic disorders like schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. To be eligible for the Early Psychosis Treatment Program, patients must have received a diagnosis of a psychotic spectrum disorder within the past two years.
Psychosis typically presents in the 15-30 age range, as young people begin experiencing troubling thoughts and changes in behavior.
These thoughts and changes in behavior often include:
- Hearing or seeing things that others do not see or hear
- Having unusual thoughts or beliefs that appear strange to oneself or others
- Feeling fearful or suspicious of others, often including trusted loved ones
Early Psychosis Treatment Program is focused on medication management, therapy, care coordination, psychoeducation, and connecting patients with any necessary resources for the next steps in their care. We specialize in rapid access and immediate service, to help young adults and their families receive the tools they need to manage the symptoms of psychosis and to get on a path toward stability and health.
Early Psychosis Treatment Program offers:
- Crisis management
- Psychoeducation about psychosis for young adults and their families
- Prescription and medication management
- Behavioral interventions aimed at improving social functioning and decreasing substance use
- Coordinated nursing care
- Care coordination
- Connections to other local, supportive resources
Early Psychosis Treatment Program is a companion program to OnTrack, which offers a wraparound suite of services available to patients who need them and includes peer support specialists with lived experience in psychosis who work to engage participants in treatment and bridge gaps with providers.
What To Expect
Before enrolling, all program participants will complete a phone screening to determine whether Early Psychosis Treatment Program is the best fit for their needs.
- Once the initial phone screening is completed, a "meet and greet" will be scheduled as a casual and informal way to introduce the team to the individual interested in treatment, and to explain the different facets of the program.
- If the individual agrees to participate in the program, they will have rapid access to providers.
- They will have immediate access to all the components of the program and can use the different members of the team over the course of the two-year program to reach their goals.
- They will have access to a nurse on the care team who will help with day-to-day case management, care coordination, medication management, health education, and more.
- Many program participants engage in individual therapy, social skills group therapy, and a family education group, which involves the family and support system of the participant in a nine-month, problem-solving multi-family group.
About Our Team
- A team leader who serves as the primary therapist, coordinates intakes, offers crisis management, provides psychoeducation and family therapy to the family, and manages the program.
- A psychiatrist (either an adult psychiatrist or a child and adolescent psychiatrist, depending on the age of the program participant) who sees individuals weekly for medication management.
- A recovery coach who is responsible for coaching program participants in life skills, social skills, and problem-solving strategies. Our recovery coach also provides family therapy and substance use intervention.
- A nurse responsible for professional nursing care to patients, assessing their progress, providing support and psychoeducation to patients, coordinating their care, and monitoring treatment adherence.
Enrollment and Insurance Information
How to Enroll
You do not need a referral from a provider to receive services from Early Psychosis Treatment Program. Many clients are referred to us by hospitals or by their clinician. We also receive referrals from community clinicians, other programs within Sheppard Pratt, including Psychiatric Urgent Care, and from consumers themselves. Please call us to learn more and to enroll in our program.
Accepted Insurance
Early Psychosis Treatment Program accepts Maryland Medicaid, BlueCross BlueShield, and other commercial insurances with out-of-network benefits. Patients can also self-pay for services. Please contact your insurance provider to learn about what is in network for your plan.