[Teaching how to ask for help: social sensitiveness and early intervention in psychosis]

Abstract

Psychosis is the most traumatic mental illness influencing both sufferers and their families' quality of life, because of the symptoms and the social stigma. A delay in the recognition of fi rst episode psychosis is unfortunately common being often associated with social functioning decline and worse prognosis. Early detection and intervention could potentially alter the course of this serious illness. We reviewed evidence from the literature on the most recent examples of early intervention in psychosis and on its effectiveness in delaying transition to psychosis, reducing the duration of untreated psychosis, the admission rates, the suicide rates, the treatment costs, as well as preventing relapses and improving the short and long-term symptomatic and functional outcome. The morbidity and mortality associated with schizophrenia spectrum may be improved by a multidisciplinary approach, involving the School, the Primary care and the Information in order to detect as soon as possible the prodromal feelings associated with early psycho-sis. General practitioners are indeed ideally placed to identify mental and emotional changes in the emerging psychotic illnesses and could bridge the gap between specialist mental health services, patients and their families. These are the reasons why mental health should be demanding commitment for both psychiatrists and primary care.