Effects of Community Mental Health Service in Subjects with Early Psychosis: One-Year Prospective Follow Up

The use of a multidisciplinary team approach is essential for increasing the likelihood of recovery among individuals with early psychosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of community-based mental health services on the symptoms and socio-occupational functioning of subjects with early psychosis. The study included participants who were referred to our Mental Health Promotion Center and who agreed to participate in diverse individual and group programs. During the 1-year follow-up, the medication adherence rate remained high, the recovery rate substantially increased, and the scores on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Psychotic Symptom Rating Scale-Delusion and Auditory Hallucinations subscales, Global Assessment of Functioning, Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure, and Social Functioning Questionnaire significantly improved over time. The findings suggest that the 1-year outcome of subjects with early psychosis can be improved by diverse community-based psychosocial interventions.