Early intervention services

• Early intervention
• What are ‘prodromal’ symptoms?
• Do early intervention services make a difference?
• How to contact your local early intervention service
• What will happen there?

Early intervention

The earlier someone who has symptoms of psychosis gets treated, the better. A number of research studies have reported that the longer people go without having treatment for the symptoms of psychosis, the harder it is to start the process of recovery.

Early intervention services are specialist services, available across England (and in many other European countries, Australia and America) that provide treatment and support for young people who are having symptoms of psychosis for the first time. Some of these services also work with young people who have experiences that could be warning signs and lead to the development of the symptoms of psychosis. Doctors call these early experiences ‘prodromal’ symptoms.

Some early intervention services also offer care to people during the first three to five years of a psychotic illness.

GPs or specialist mental health services can refer people to an early intervention service, and some early intervention services allow people to refer themselves, or be referred by family members.

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What are ‘prodromal’ symptoms?

There are often early warning signs before the symptoms of psychosis start. People may begin to feel confused and find it hard to cope with life, or have unusual and strange experiences, like seeing or hearing things that aren’t there. They may be anxious, or irritable, or depressed, and find it hard to sleep, or need to sleep much more than usual. They may stop wanting to spend time with family members and friends and shut themselves away. They may feel persecuted or harassed (see Paranoia page), or out of control, or feel that something peculiar is happening but not be able to identify what it is.

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Do early intervention services make a difference?

Researchers have followed people who have been supported by mental health professionals working in early intervention services and compared the course of their illness with the experiences of people who have been treated in general mental health services. The studies have consistently shown that within two years, people who have accessed early intervention services have fewer relapses, are less likely to be admitted to hospital, and have less severe symptoms.

There are been few studies, however, following people past two years. Those that have been carried out don’t always show longer-term benefits for people when they stop receiving specialist support.

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How to contact your local early intervention service

Ask your GP how to contact your local early intervention service. In some parts of the country, people can self-refer. Your GP should know if this is the case, or you can search the website of your local mental health trust for ‘early intervention services’ to find out what’s available where you live. Early intervention services aim to see people as quickly as possible.

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What will happen there?

Early intervention team members will talk to people about their experiences to plan what sort of support, help and treatment is needed. They aim to give people and their families appropriate help and support – information to help them make sense of what’s happening, for example, medication and talking therapies. (The treatment offered by early intervention services should be in line with treatment recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), including medication, family therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, and arts therapies.)

Many early intervention services also offer vocational and welfare advice, and teams work closely with other services and agencies to help someone get back to/continue to work or study.

Early intervention teams are usually made up of a range of mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers and support workers. Some teams include vocational advisors.