Programme fidelity of specialized early intervention in Denmark

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Mental Health Services Research

Background:

• Specialized early intervention (SEI) is effective for first-episode psychosis.
• Increasing dissemination of SEI services necessitates fidelity assessment.
• Treatment fidelity ensures positive outcomes are maintained.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map the programme fidelity of SEI teams in Denmark.
• To test a newly developed fidelity scale for SEI teams.

Main Methods:

• An 18-item SEI fidelity scale was used.
• The scale assesses treatment structure, character, and content.
• Data were collected via in-person visits, interviews, and observations.

Main Results:

• 96% of Danish SEI teams participated.
• 32% achieved elite fidelity, 27% adequate fidelity.
• Significant variation was observed in the structural domain.

Conclusions:

• The multimodal approach effectively evaluated SEI team fidelity.
• Low structural fidelity may compromise team function and treatment quality.
• Ensuring high fidelity is essential for sustained SEI effectiveness.