Evaluation of the Combined Treatment Approach “Robin” (Standardized Manual and Smartphone App) for Adolescents at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis

Bibliographic Data

ID15518292
AuthorsNina Traber‐Walker (University Hospital of Zurich, corresponding author), Nina Traber-Walker, Miriam Gerstenberg (0000-0003-0162-8046, University of Zurich), Sibylle Metzler (University of Zurich), Maria Raquel Joris (University Hospital of Zurich), Markus Karr (University Hospital of Zurich), Nadja Studer (University of Zurich), Marina Zulauf Logoz (University Hospital of Zurich), Alexander Roth (0000-0002-7484-5511, University of Zurich), Wulf Rössler (0000-0003-0049-4533, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin), Susanne Walitza (0000-0002-8161-8683, University of Zurich), Maurizia Franscini (University Hospital of Zurich, corresponding author)
Year2019
Volume10
Pages384-384
Publication date2019-06-06
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00384
PMID31244692
OpenAlexW2981564204
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited83

Introduction: The prevention of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders has led researchers to focus on early identification of individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis and to treat the at-risk symptoms in the pre-psychotic period. Although at-risk symptoms such as attenuated hallucinations or delusions are common in adolescents and associated with a marked reduction in global functioning, the evidence base of effective interventions for adolescents at CHR state and even first-episode psychosis is limited. Thus, the present protocol describes a study design that combines therapy modules for CHR adolescents with a smartphone application supporting the young individuals between the therapy sessions. The treatment approach "Robin" is based on existing therapy strategies for adolescents with first episode of psychosis and the available recommendations for adults with at-risk symptoms. Methods: The evaluation aims firstly to compare the efficacy of Robin in 30 CHR adolescents aged 14-18 to an active control group (treatment as usual) from a previous study. Primary outcome measures will be at-risk symptomatology, comorbid diagnosis, functioning, self-efficacy, and quality of life. For the prospective intervention condition (16 weekly individual sessions + a minimum 4 family sessions), help-seeking adolescents with CHR for psychosis, aged 14-18, will be recruited over 3 years. At-risk and comorbid symptoms, functioning, self-efficacy, and quality of life are monitored at six time points (baseline, during the treatment period; immediately after intervention; and 6, 12, and 24 months later) and compared with the respective measures of the active control group. Discussion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first controlled trial to test the efficacy of a specific early psychosis treatment in combination with a smartphone application for adolescents at CHR for developing psychosis. The results of the study are expected to add information that may substantially decrease the burden of CHR adolescents and increase their resilience. It may offer age-adapted and targeted strategies to guide clinicians in the treatment of these vulnerable individuals. Furthermore, research in the field of early intervention will be enriched by our findings. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03829527

At risk mental state · Global Assessment of Functioning · Intervention (counseling · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychosis · Psychotherapist · Quality of life (healthcare · Schizophrenia (object-oriented programming · Young adult · Bipolar Disorder and Treatment · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Psychology · Schizophrenia research and treatment · Gerontology