Current Treatment Trends of Psychosis in Youth with Schizophrenia

Given the current state of the literature, we recommend using evidence-based antipsychotic selection and empirically supported dosing for medications, data for which have only recently become available. Despite the paucity of evidence supporting psychosocial interventions in youth with psychosis, we extrapolate effectiveness conclusions from both the first-episode psychosis and the adult literature. We recommend interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy, social skills, multi-family group therapy, and some briefer forms of cognitive rehabilitation training. Additionally, we have found that some combination of psychiatric rehabilitation programs, case management, and supported vocational/academic programs enhance functioning and subjective quality of life in our own patients. It is our recommendation that the decision whether or not to prescribe pharmacological interventions for the clinically high risk/prodromal youth be decided on a case by case basis, but that psychosocial interventions and family support for this population should be employed during this period of vulnerability.