News
EDIT Service – People at ultra-high risk of developing psychosis, a preventative approach
Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust
Dr Samantha Bowe, Clinical Lead and Clinical Psychologist, Dr Sophie Parker, Clinical Psychologist, Professor Tony Morrison, Associate Director, Paul French, Associate Director (Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust.
‘Unusual experiences’ (e.g. paranoia, voice hearing)
can be an ultra-high risk indication of a person
developing future psychosis, as well as being
distressing and confusing for the person involved.
These symptoms may result in a young person
disengaging from college, work and their social
network, and have a profound effect on their lives.
Research has identified the presence of three risk
factors in those people who are at ultra-high risk of
developing psychosis (40–50% becoming psychotic
within one year).
Evidence also suggests that if people
are left with psychotic symptoms for a lengthy period
then this can significantly impact on future outcomes.
This observation has led to the national development
of early intervention teams.
Current UK service provision for such individuals relies
upon a ‘watch and wait’ approach by a local early
intervention team (where these are unavailable no
intervention is provided). The EDIT (Salford Early
Detection and Intervention Team) service differs by
providing an evidence-based talking therapy (cognitive therapy) to prevent the onset of psychosis, which significantly reduces the likelihood of young people making the transition to psychosis.
By intervening at this crucial stage, EDIT helps young people to get their lives back on track. It also detects cases where first episode psychosis has been undetected and untreated, and refers such people on to an appropriate service (e.g. early intervention services).
Over the last two years (March 2005–April 2007), out of 112 people referred to EDIT, only seven per cent have developed psychosis. In comparison, local data and international data suggests a much greater transition rate in those patients in the absence of targeted preventative interventions (22–30% and 36–50%, respectively).
Image (top right): Dr Samantha Bowe, Dr Sophie Parker and Paul French (Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust)
Image (bottom right): Dr Samantha Bowe (Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust) and Sir David Henshaw (Chair, NHS North West)