Service Delivery of Coordinated Specialty Care Programs Participating in the Early Psychosis Intervention Network

The Early Psychosis Intervention Network includes >100 coordinated specialty care (CSC) programs across 18 U.S. states, presenting opportunities to examine program characteristics on a national scale.

The authors examined CSC programs (N=111), including referral sources, eligibility, staffing, service offerings, and referrals on program completion.

In addition to the six core services of the CSC approach, most programs offered psychoeducation, community outreach, primary care coordination, crisis intervention, and peer support. The findings showed variability in eligibility criteria, demonstrating that participants differ by age, presenting conditions, and clinical needs. Most team leads dedicated at least 76% of their time to CSC teams, and longer leadership tenures were associated with reduced staff turnover.

Considerations for revisions of the CSC approach include psychoeducation, community outreach, primary care coordination, crisis intervention, and peer support as core components. Retention strategies for team leads may benefit CSC teams.