Psychotherapy in first episode psychosis: Description of a multimodal group intervention program

Poster C57, Wednesday, October%2010, 11:30%20am%20-%201:00%20pm, Essex%20Ballroom

Jean-Gabriel Daneault1, Edith Lefebvre1, Chantal Gruslin1, Chantal Sansfaçon1, Pierre Fortier1; 1Clinique J.-P. Mottard, Hôpital en santé mentale Albert-Prévost, Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada

In 2017, the Québec Ministry of Health and Social Services published an evidence-based frame of reference to support the implementation of early intervention services for first episode psychosis (FEP). This framework posits cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as an essential component of FEP treatment. For many years, the J.-P. Mottard clinic for FEP in Montréal has been offering a multimodal group intervention program that takes into account the heterogeneous needs of young adults with FEP. This poster presents the theoretical basis, objectives, components, and challenges of this program. Each year, 32 to 36 participants are divided into 4 groups of 8 to 9 people, depending on their difficulties, competencies, and level of functioning. The groups meet weekly for 2 hours over a period of 9 months. The sessions are led by two professionals trained in CBT and psychosis. Importantly, the participants are met individually to personalize their therapeutic objectives, while ensuring consistency with the other treatments received at the clinic. The program, standardized in its form while being constantly personalized for each participant, aims at acquiring knowledge and skills to support recovery. It integrates various components, including motivational interviewing, psychoeducation, behavioral activation, gradual exposure to dreaded social situations, social skills training, CBT for residual psychotic symptoms, and cognitive remediation. To date, our clinical observations confirm the effectiveness of this program. A next step will be to validate these observations with standardized scales and identify predicting factors related to recovery.

Topic Area: Psychosocial Interventions

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