Research

About the Study

NAPLS: Predictors and Mechanisms of Conversion to Psychosis
Family Focused Treatment

A family treatment component funded by the UCLA Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience has been added to the NAPLS protocol.

Young people who have consented to NAPLS and have already completed the baseline assessment have the opportunity to participate in a Family Treatment study with their family members. Participants are randomly assigned to up to 6 months of Family-Focused Treatment (FFT) or to a brief package of 3-4 session of psychoeducation. The treatment will be provided by therapists who have training and expertise in working with families and who will have received additional specialized training for this intervention.

Description of Family Focused Treatment for Youth at Risk for Psychosis (FFT)

There will be 18 family therapy sessions offered over the course of 6 months. The first 4 sessions are geared towards establishing the goals of treatment, providing education about symptoms and to identify stressors that might be affecting symptoms and functioning. Later sessions are aimed at learning communication skills in preparation for learning how to effectively problem solve. The final sessions focus on individual problems that the family is struggling with and the therapist introduces formal problem solving techniques. The problem solving sessions are important for reducing stressors that could be affecting symptoms and role/social functioning.

The goal of this research is to reduce functional disability and prevent or delay functional deterioration and the onset of full psychosis among at-risk youth. There are currently no cost-effective, evidence-based psychosocial approaches to psychosis prevention. The results of this study could have a major impact on public health approaches to psychosis among at risk individuals.