Evidence-based early interventions for individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis: a review of treatment components

Abstract

Youth and young adults at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis experience a broad range of difficulties, including attenuated psychotic symptoms, comorbid concerns, functional impairments, and family and interpersonal stress. Given emerging evidence that early interventions may improve functioning and reduce symptomatology while also lowering risk of transition to full-threshold psychosis, several randomized controlled trials have systematically evaluated the efficacy of CHR treatment approaches. This article describes and summarizes psychosocial intervention approaches that have demonstrated efficacy in treating people at CHR, with a focus on distilling individual components of these treatments. On the basis of the existing literature, we propose an empirically based, flexible, and comprehensive modularized approach to early intervention that meets the varying needs of individuals experiencing CHR-related distress and dysfunction, many of whom may be on a trajectory toward psychosis.