Early Detection of Psychosis

About the Course

Psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, are much more common than many clinicians realize. Individuals suffering from early signs of psychosis and their families typically come into contact with multiple helping professionals before being properly identified and treated. That period of time from the onset of psychosis to connection with appropriate treatment, known as the Duration of Untreated Psychosis (DUP), is one of the strongest predictors of long term outcomes, with better functioning even decades later for those with a shorter DUP. This course will cover how to recognize early warning signs and symptoms of psychosis and strategies for effectively screening, assessing, engaging, and providing or connecting with appropriate care. Clinicians will learn about evidence based practices, such as Coordinated Specialty Care, that have a dramatic, positive impact on symptoms and functioning. Psychosis does not have to be a disability sentence; any practicing clinician can help.

2 hours CE. Recorded video and reflection activities

Time spent on reflection prompts is required for course completion. However, you may choose to record your response to these reflections online within the course or record through your own personal method (for example, on your desktop or handwritten notes).

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Course Overview

ESTIMATED COURSE LENGTH: 2.12 hours

CE CREDITS: 2.00 continuing education/contact hours for social workers, psychologists, counselors, and marriage and family therapists

TARGET AUDIENCE: Mental Health Practitioners

LEVEL OF INSTRUCTION: Intermediate

PREREQUISITE(S): None

INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD: Recorded video format (non-interactive)

ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS: Closed captioning of audio components. In order to request further accessibility accommodations, please email support@psychhub.com.

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS: To obtain your CE certificate, learners must complete a pre-test (not scored), progress through all course segments, complete a participant evaluation, and obtain a score of 80% or higher on a post-test. Learners are expected to complete the quiz within 3 attempts. If unable to do so, the learner will need to re-review the course segments.

FINANCIAL/COMMERCIAL SUPPORT STATEMENT: This course has no commercial support.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:  This course has no potential conflict of interest or outside commercial support. Psych Hub's conflict of interest statement is found in the footer of the training center.

GRIEVANCE AND REFUND POLICIES: Grievance and refund policies are found in the footer of the training center.

PARTICIPATION COSTS:  The cost to participate in this CE activity is included in the subscription registration fee.

COURSE CREATION DATE: 7/14/2023

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Identify warning signs and symptoms of psychosis
  • Develop effective engagement skills for individuals with early signs of psychosis
  • Integrate psychosis screening strategies into practice
  • Describe evidence-based care for psychosis and how to access it

Course Outline

  1. Why focus on early detection of psychosis?
    1. Prevalence of psychotic disorders - likely to encounter individuals with psychosis
    2. Importance of reducing duration of untreated psychosis (DUP)
    3. Positive prognosis with specialized early intervention - Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC)
    4. Higher mortality and disease burden without early detection
    5. Many lost opportunities during DUP - misdiagnosis and disengagement common
  2. Psychosis 101
    1. Etiology and risk factors
    2. What is psychosis?
    3. Course of illness - onset and phases
    4. Myths vs facts
    5. Symptom categories
  3. What does it really look like? Recognizing early warning signs and symptoms
    1. Common presenting complaints
    2. Examples of symptom presentations
      1. Positive
      2. Negative
      3. Disorganized
      4. General
  4. Screening
    1. Sample screening questions and tools
    2. Principles of effective engagement
  5. What to do when you detect psychosis
    1. Reassurance and support
    2. Determining whether CSC is available in your community
    3. Making a warm handoff
    4. When CSC isn’t available - adapting your existing skills and connecting with resources
      1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
      2. Effective Medication Management
      3. Supported Education/Employment
      4. Family psychoeducation and support
      5. Addressing functional challenges

CE Information


American Psychological Association (APA)
Psych Hub is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Psych Hub maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Psychologists completing this course receive 2.00 continuing education credits.

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
Psych Hub, #1750, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 2.00 clinical continuing education credits.

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
Psych Hub is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. Psych Hub maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. CAMFT Approval #1000074. Course meets the qualifications for 2.00 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
Psych Hub has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7051. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Psych Hub is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Counselors completing this course receive 2.00 continuing education hours.

New York State Education Department - Licensed Mental Health Counselors (NYSED-LMHC)
Psych Hub, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0257. New York State licensed mental health counselors completing this course receive 2.00 contact hours.

New York State Education Department - Marriage & Family Therapists (NYSED-MFT)
Psych Hub, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0109. New York State marriage and family therapists completing this course receive 2.00 contact hours.

New York State Education Department - Psychology (NYSED-PSY)
Psych Hub, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0208. New York State licensed psychologists completing this course receive 2.00 contact hours.

New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work (NYSED-SW)
Psych Hub, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0699. New York State social workers completing this course receive 2.00 contact hours.

Experts


Jessica Monahan Pollard, PhD, Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Jessica Pollard is a licensed Psychologist with over two decades of experience in mental health and substance use services, research and evaluation, public policy, education, leadership, and administration. She has thousands of hours of direct patient care across child and adult psychological testing; individual, family, and group therapy; and brief consultations and has trained and supervised hundreds of behavioral health professionals. Dr. Pollard currently serves as the Senior Behavioral Health Advisor for the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD).