Psychoeducation for Youth at Clinical High-Risk of Psychosis

Psychoeducation may be a useful first-step intervention for youth at clinical high risk of developing psychosis (CHR). The aim of this study was to describe clinical improvement after receiving psychoeducation and adherence to the treatment.

The study included 54 participants who began the treatment and 48 completed a follow-up assessment 2-6 months after baseline. Clinical assessments included measures of attenuated psychotic symptoms (APS), negative symptoms, depression, anxiety, distress and social and role functioning. Treatment consisted of eight individual sessions of psychoeducation.

At the follow-up assessments, significant improvements were observed in total ratings on APS (p < 0.0001, effect size (ES) = 0.36), depression and anxiety ratings on the CDSS (p < 0.001, ES = 0.51) and the OASIS (p < 0.05, ES = 0.31), the K-10 distress scale (p < 0.01, ES = 0.36) and defeatist beliefs (p < 0.01, ES = 0.34). For negative symptoms, significant improvements were observed in blunted affect (p < 0.01, ES = 0.45) and avolition (p < 0.05, ES = 0.21). No improvements were observed in social or role functioning. Fifty-nine percent completed all psychoeducation sessions, and 18.5% chose to attend fewer sessions due to existing knowledge. Only 7.4% dropped out, while the remaining 14.7% left early but provided explanations for doing so.

Generally, participants attended most of the sessions, with limited dropout. Clinical improvement was observed but cannot necessarily be attributed to the psychoeducation since this was an open trial. However, this appears to be a valuable and easy-to-deliver intervention that can be offered in a real-world clinical setting.

Clinical Trials.gov identifier NCT04829292.