The NAVIGATE Program for First-Episode Psychosis: Rationale, Overview, and Description of Psychosocial Components

Comprehensive coordinated specialty care programs for first episode psychosis have been widely implemented in other countries, but not in the U.S. The National Institute of Mental Health’s (NIMH) Recovery After Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE) initiative focused on the development and evaluation of first episode treatment programs designed for the U.S. healthcare system. This paper describes the background, rationale, and nature of the intervention developed by the Early Treatment Program project, the NAVIGATE program, with a particular focus on its psychosocial components. NAVIGATE is a team-based, multi-component treatment program designed to be implemented in routine mental health treatment settings and aimed at guiding people with a first episode of psychosis (and their families) towards psychological and functional health. The core services provided in the NAVIGATE program include the Family Education Program, Individual Resiliency Training, Supported Employment and Education, and Individualized Medication Treatment. NAVIGATE embraces a shared decision-making approach with a focus on strengths and resiliency, and collaboration with clients and family members in treatment planning and reviews. The NAVIGATE program has the potential to fill an important gap in the U.S. healthcare system by providing a comprehensive intervention specially designed to meet the unique treatment needs of persons recovering from a first episode of psychosis. The program is currently being evaluated in cluster randomized controlled trial comparing NAVIGATE to usual community care

Comprehensive Versus Usual Community Care for First-Episode Psychosis: 2-Year Outcomes From the NIMH RAISE Early Treatment Program

The primary aim was to compare the impact of NAVIGATE, a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, team-based treatment approach for first episode psychosis designed for implementation in the U.S. healthcare system, to Community Care on quality of life

Goal-setting improves motivation in first-episode psychosis

Introduction: Diminished motivation (e.g., low drive, curiosity, and engagement in activities) is associated with robust impairment in psychosocial functioning in schizophrenia, yet even the most effective evidence-based interventions rarely effect meaningful change in motivation. Individual Resiliency Training (IRT) is a psychosocial treatment for individuals following a first episode of psychosis, supporting motivation through recovery goal setting and pursuit. The extent to which such an approach might improve motivation over time is unknown. Method: We tested the impact of exposure to IRT modules focused on goal setting and attainment on motivation and functional outcomes among participants in the Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode-Early Treatment Program (RAISE-ETP). In the sample of 404 individuals with a first episode of psychosis receiving treatment across 34 community sites, we ran mixed-effect models with group (exposed to four or more goal-focused IRT sessions vs. Community Care (CC)), time (baseline, six- and 12-month follow-up), and the group-by-time interaction as predictors of motivation, role and social functioning. We also ran these analyses with those exposed to three or fewer goal-focused IRT sessions compared to CC. Results: Controlling for gender, ethnicity, baseline cognition, and total number of outpatient mental health visits, exposure to four or more goal-focused IRT sessions was associated with greater improvements in motivation and role functioning compared to CC; effects were not observed for social functioning. Participants receiving three or fewer goal-focused IRT sessions did not differ from those in CC in these outcomes. Further, sensitivity analysis showed that general exposure to IRT was not associated with differential outcomes. Conclusions: Findings suggest that sufficient focus on recovery goal setting and support in psychosocial intervention for first-episode psychosis may have specific impact on motivation

The therapeutic alliance in individual resiliency training for first episode psychosis : Relationship with treatment outcomes and therapy participation

Objective: The therapeutic alliance has long been considered an essential part of treatment. Despite a large body of work examining the alliance–outcome relationship, very few studies have examined it within individuals with first episode psychosis (FEP). Method: The present study examined the alliance at Session 3, 4, or 5 and its relationship to 2-year treatment outcomes and therapy participation in a sample of 144 FEP clients who received specialized FEP treatment at U.S. clinics. Furthermore, we examined between-therapist and within-therapist (client) effects of the alliance on outcomes. Results: Results indicated that a better alliance was related to improved mental health recovery, psychological well-being, quality of life, total symptoms, negative symptoms, and disorganized symptoms at the end of treatment. In addition, the between-therapist effect of the alliance was significantly related to better mental health recovery whereas the within-therapist (client) effect of the alliance was related to better quality of life, total symptoms, and negative symptoms at the end of treatment. Conclusions: A stronger alliance was related to improved treatment outcomes in FEP. Future work should consider examining mediators of the alliance-outcome relationship as well as how changes in the alliance relate to changes in outcomes over time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved

Client predictors of the therapeutic alliance in individual resiliency training for first episode psychosis

Individuals experiencing their first episode of psychosis (FEP) are often reluctant to seek treatment, and are difficult to engage and retain in mental health services. The therapeutic alliance (TA), or the affective and collaborative bond between therapist and client, is predictive of better treatment outcomes for clients with FEP; thus, it is important to understand the predictors of the TA in order to determine how best to foster a positive alliance with these individuals. The primary aim of the present study was to examine whether baseline client characteristics, including severity of symptoms, social functioning, and insight, were associated with the TA. The exploratory aim was to examine associations between demographic variables (age, race, and gender) and the TA. The present study included a subsample of participants (n = 134) who received Individual Resiliency Training (IRT) as part of the NAVIGATE treatment in the Recovery After An Initial Schizophrenia Episode Early Treatment Program study. Four trained research assistants rated the TA from early audiotaped sessions of IRT. Multilevel modeling was utilized given the nested data structure. Results indicated that more severe positive and less severe negative symptoms were significantly and uniquely associated with a better therapeutic alliance, as was female gender. The findings suggest that client symptom profiles should be considered when developing a TA with FEP clients

Character strengths of individuals with first episode psychosis in Individual Resiliency Training

Positive psychology interventions that integrate a person's strengths into treatment result in improvements in life satisfaction and well-being. Character strengths classified within six core virtues (wisdom/knowledge, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence) have been the subject of substantial research. Though a number of studies have been conducted in the general population, little is known about the character strengths of individuals with first episode psychosis (FEP). Moreover, positive psychology principles, in particular a focus on personal strengths, have been increasingly integrated into FEP treatment and was a core component of Individual Resiliency Training (IRT), the individual therapy component of NAVIGATE tested in the Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode Early Treatment Program. As such, the present study offers an examination of character strengths among 105 FEP clients in specialized early intervention treatment. The present study included two primary aims: 1) to conduct a descriptive analysis of character strengths of FEP individuals and 2) to examine exploratory associations between character strengths and changes in symptomatic and recovery variables over six months. Results revealed that the most commonly identified strengths were: Honesty, Authenticity, and Genuineness (40.95%), Kindness and generosity (37.14%), Fairness, equity, and justice (29.52%), Gratitude (29.52%), and Humor and playfulness (29.52%). Three virtues (Humanity, Justice, and Transcendence) were significantly associated with improvements in symptoms, psychological well-being, and interpersonal relations over six months. Overall, the present study offers a glimpse into how persons with FEP view their strengths and how certain clusters of strengths are related to important outcomes

Introspective accuracy for substance use across a year of treatment for first episode psychosis

Substance use exacerbates psychosis, mania, depression, and poor functioning in people with first episodes of psychosis (FEP) and is associated with poor treatment outcomes, even when it does not reach the level of a formal disorder. Impaired insight and substance use are common issues that may interfere with treatment outcomes among people experiencing FEP, yet both are treatable. Improvements in these domains are associated with better outcomes. Low insight could increase risk for substance use by impairing the ability to self-appraise and assess consequences. Introspective accuracy (IA) is understudied in this area and is one way of considering self-appraisal. This study is an archival review using data collected from NAVIGATE, a coordinated specialty care program treating people with FEP. IA was operationalized as the difference between clinician and client ratings of substance use. We tested whether IA changed over one year of treatment and whether those changes occurred alongside changes in symptoms and illness self-management. No changes in IA were detected in relation to illness self-management. Changes in IA for substance use occurred midway through treatment—individuals with greater symptom remission had more overconfident IA. Prior research on insight has shown a paradox where greater insight accompanies more symptoms. However, past research has also shown a relationship between IA and functional outcomes, like illness self-management, and that overconfidence in one domain can positively bias clinician ratings in another. Our findings suggest either a positive bias for ratings associated with overconfident IA or an insight paradox type effect

The use of diary methods to evaluate daily experiences in first-episode psychosis

Integrated Coping Awareness Therapy (I-CAT) is an intervention that targets stress reactivity in first-episode psychosis (FEP). This study extends prior outcome research on I-CAT by examining predictors of online daily diary completion among 38 young adults with FEP and treatment group differences in diary ratings. We found no significant predictors of daily diary completion rate and no effect of treatment condition on diary ratings. These results are consistent with Halverson et al. (2021) and suggest that diaries are a valuable method of data collection in FEP

Factor structure of therapist fidelity to individual resiliency training in the recovery after an initial schizophrenia episode early treatment program

Background: Evidence‐based approaches and early intervention have improved the long‐term prognosis of individuals with schizophrenia. However, little is known about the therapeutic processes involved in individual therapy in first‐episode psychosis. A comprehensive psychosocial/psychiatric programme for this population, NAVIGATE, includes an individual therapy component, individual resiliency training (IRT). Fidelity of clinicians’ adherence to the IRT protocol has been collected to ensure proper implementation of this manual‐based intervention. These data can provide insight into the elements of the therapeutic process in this intervention. Materials and Methods: To achieve this goal, we first examined the factor structure of the IRT fidelity scale with exploratory factor analysis. Second, we explored the relationships among the IRT fidelity ratings with clinician years of experience and years of education, as well as client's baseline symptom severity and duration of untreated psychosis. Results and Conclusions: Results supported a 2‐factor structure of the IRT fidelity scale. Correlations between clinician years of education and fidelity ratings were statistically significant