Psychosocial Interventions and Long-term Outcomes of Children and Adolescents with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder: Gaps in Research

Abstract

Early identification and prevention programs for children and adolescents who are at risk for early onset Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder (SSD) seek to provide supportive, therapeutic environments for youth and families. Their primary goals are to prevent a transition to psychosis and to treat frequently occurring comorbid disorders and associated impairments while facilitating positive adaptive functioning. Recovery model based services for adults with SSD stress the individuals’ acceptance of their strengths and vulnerabilities, their compliance with treatment and their capacity for sustained hope for the future [1]. Early identification and prevention programs for children and adolescents at risk for SSD have similar goals even though psychotic like experiences are fairly common in youth and prodromal symptoms are not always associated with later poor psychosocial functioning [2]. In addition to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and the appropriate use of medication for attenuated psychotic symptoms and comorbid disorders, early intervention programs provide a range of psychosocial services, including cognitive remediation, supportive family counseling, psychoeducation and social skills training in keeping with the awareness of SSD as an at times disabling developmental and psychiatric disorder.