Clinical practice at a multi-dimensional treatment centre for individuals with early psychosis in Japan

Early intervention for psychosis in Japan has lagged behind that in western countries, but has rapidly begun to attract attention in recent years. As part of a worldwide trend, a multi-dimensional treatment centre for early psychosis consisting of a Youth Clinic, which specialises in young individuals with an at-risk mental state for psychosis, and Il Bosco, a special day-care service for individuals with early psychosis, was initiated at the Toho University Omori Medical Center in Japan in 2007. The treatment centre aims to provide early intervention to prevent the development of full-blown psychosis in patients with an at-risk mental state and intensive rehabilitation to enable first-episode schizophrenia patients to return to the community. We presently provide the same programmes for both groups at Il Bosco. However, different approaches may need to be considered for patients with an at-risk mental state and for those with first-episode schizophrenia. More phase-specific and need-specific services will be indispensable for early psychiatric interventions in the future.