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Croatian Models and Experience in First-Episode Psychosis Treatment
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 September 2022
Abstract
We have witnessed a significant push towards staging in medicine. That trend has not bypassed psychiatry, with realization that early phases of various disorders present the window for early intervention that is most likely to result in preserving every-day functionality and achieving favourable outcomes. First-episode psychosis programs have been developed in order to ensure adequate early interaction with psychiatric services, help achieve faster and quality remission, prevent relapses and ensure better long-term outcomes. There is still, however, no consensus on the format or the most appropriate intervention in the early-course psychosis. Patients in Zagreb, Croatia, are offered a number of first-episode psychosis programs, one of which is housed in the largest Croatian psychiatric institution, University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapce. Specialized early-course treatment model in Vrapce stemmed from first-episode inpatient unit established in 2004, and grew to present in its core integration of care across different organizational units, acuity levels, and specific patient needs. Recognizing that a significant number of first-episode patients first interact with psychiatric services through emergency units, Vrapce’s model fostered early interaction with specialized services staff starting with intensive and emergency care units, allowing for continuity of care and early recruitment into specialized services. Vertical integration meant inpatient acute and subacute units seamlessly linked with day hospital and outpatient services, creating the setting for earlier formation of therapeutic alliance and treatment plans, but also allowing for flexible entry points for users. COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to challenging the initial integrations of services, facilitated transfer of certain services into virtual space.
No significant relationships.
- Type
- Clinical/Therapeutic
- Information
- European Psychiatry , Volume 65 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 30th European Congress of Psychiatry , June 2022 , pp. S24
- Creative Commons
- This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
- Copyright
- © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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