Joint-trajectories of clinical severity, social functioning and cannabis use in first-episode psychosis: A 5-year longitudinal study in 2 urban early intervention services.

Cannabis use is associated with increased psychosis incidence alongside worse outcomes. The role of cannabis may be complex, vary across patients and over time. Yet, few have examined the longer-term trajectories of cannabis use, symptoms and functioning and their inter-relationships. We conducted a 5-year longitudinal study to estimate joint-trajectories of clinical severity, social functioning, and cannabis use via group-based multi-trajectory modelling on a sample of 395 incident FEP cases. Associations of trajectories with socio-demographic and clinical factors were tested using multinomial regression. The best-fitting model identified 5 joint-trajectories. A first group (N = 93,23.7 %) presented only marginal improvement despite not using cannabis, while a second with no cannabis use and a third group with low-decreasing use showed clinical amelioration. Among those with baseline harmful cannabis use, a fourth group progressively discontinued use and improved clinically (N = 78,19.9 %). A fifth group with continued use did not significantly improve over follow-up (N = 74,18.8 %), and also had the highest odds of homelessness (OR = 22.5,95 %CI = 6.25-81.1) and childhood adversities (OR = 2.25,95 %CI = 1.71-2.97). There is substantial heterogeneity in the joint-trajectories of cannabis use and FEP outcomes. Our findings support the need for intervention aimed at cannabis reduction among heavy users. Multi-disciplinary, trauma-informed interventions may benefit those with persistent cannabis use, given its associations with childhood and social adversity.

Consistency of Delusion Themes Across First and Subsequent Episodes of Psychosis.

Importance: Despite growing interest in the phenomenology of delusions in psychosis, at present little is known about their content and evolution over time, including whether delusion themes are consistent across episodes. Objective: To examine the course of delusions and thematic delusion content across relapse episodes in patients presenting to an early intervention service for psychosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: This longitudinal, observational study used clinical data systematically collected from January 2003 to March 2018 from a cohort of consenting patients with affective or nonaffective first-episode psychosis, followed up naturalistically for up to 2 years in an early intervention service for psychosis in Montréal, Quebec, Canada. Data included the thematic content and severity of delusions (scores ≥3 using the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms) and associated psychotic and nonpsychotic symptoms, both across an initial episode and, in the event of remission, a potential relapse. Data were analyzed from September 2021 to February 2023. Exposure: An early intervention service for psychosis, organized around intensive case management and a multidisciplinary team approach, which observed each patient for up to 2 years of care. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was positive symptom relapse and remission, including the presence and content of delusions, which was coded per the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms and accepted definitions. The main statistical measures included repeated paired-sample t tests and binary logistic regression analyses. Results: Of 636 consenting patients, mean (SD) age was 23.8 (4.75) years; 191 patients were female, 444 were male, and 1 patient was nonbinary. Remission rates were high, and relapse rates were relatively low: 591 individuals had baseline delusions, of which 558 (94.4%) achieved remission. Of these 558 patients, only 182 (32.6%) had a subsequent relapse to a second or later episode of psychosis. Of the 182 patients who did relapse, however, a large proportion (115 [63.2%]) reported threshold-level delusions. Of these 115, 104 patients (90.4%) had thematic delusion content consistent with that reported during the index (first) episode. Those who relapsed with delusions had fewer delusion themes present during subsequent episodes of psychosis compared with the index episode and lower levels of other psychotic and nonpsychotic symptoms. Conclusions and Relevance: Specialized early intervention services for psychosis can achieve high rates of sustained remission. However, in this study, the minority of individuals with delusions who later relapsed experienced similar delusion themes during subsequent episodes. These findings raise important considerations for the conceptualization of delusions and have clinical implications for trajectories of illness and care.

An intersectional perspective on the sociodemographic and clinical factors influencing the status of not in Education, Employment, or training (NEET) in patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP).

PURPOSE: High rates of Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) are seen in people with first episode of psychosis (FEP). Sociodemographic and clinical factors were reported to be associated with NEET status in FEP patients. This study follows Intersectionality to examine the independent and additive effects, and most importantly the intersections of sociodemographic and clinical variables concerning NEET status in FEP patients. It was hypothesized that NEET status in FEP patients would be described by the intersection between at least two predictor variables. METHODS: Secondary analyses with chi-square tests, multiple logistic regression and Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) analyses were performed on 440 participants with FEP. RESULTS: Chi-square tests indicated that patient socioeconomic status and negative symptom severity were significantly and independently associated with their NEET status. Multiple logistic regression suggested additive effects of age (odds ratio = 1.61), patient socioeconomic status (odds ratio = 1.55) and negative symptom severity (odds ratio = 1.75) in predicting patients' NEET status. CHAID detected an intersection between patients' negative symptom severity and socioeconomic status in shaping their NEET status. CONCLUSION: This study explored how the NEET status of patients with FEP was explained not only by the separate effects of negative symptom severity and socioeconomic status but also by the unique intersections of their clinical and social identities. Findings indicated that functional outcomes of patients appear co-constructed by the intersections of multiple identities. Crucial clinical implications of complementing care for negative symptom severity with vocational resources to improve functional outcomes of patients are discussed.

An environmental scan of mental health services for indigenous youth in Canada.

Background: There is an urgent need for culturally and contextually relevant mental health support for First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth. Objective: Our aim was to identify mental health and wellness services that are currently available to Indigenous youth across Canada. Methodology: As a first step, we conducted a web-based environmental scan of services tailored to Indigenous youth. Specific factors were examined for each program, including organization type and mission, types of services, and who provides services. Results: One hundred and seventeen programs were found, with 54% being non-profits and 34% being on-reserve. Four core features were identified. The first was a strengths-based focus, rather than a pathology/deficit-focus, in programs' vision and mission statements, reflected in words like wellness and resilience. The second (87% of included programs) was the integration of mental health services with a range of other services and supports (e.g., health, employment, housing). The third was the provision of land-based programming (in 34% of programs) such as camps or hunting. Such programs were framed as promoting wellness and healing and strengthening identity. The fourth was the role of community members without formal mental health professional training (in 42% of programs), for example, as youth workers or knowledge keepers. This stems not only from the dearth of specialists in many Indigenous settings, but also a valuing of Indigenous knowledge. Conclusion: These core features in mental health services for Indigenous youth may be promising avenues for communities seeking to strengthen the services they offer to First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth.

Contexte: Il y a un besoin urgent de soutien en santé mentale adapté à la culture et au contexte pour les jeunes des Premières Nations, Inuits et Métis. Objectif: Nous cherchions à identifier les services de santé mentale et de bien-être actuellement disponibles pour les jeunes autochtones du Canada. Méthodologie: Dans un premier temps, nous avons mené une analyse environnementale en ligne des services adaptés aux jeunes autochtones. Des facteurs spécifiques ont été examinés pour chaque programme, notamment le type et la mission de l'organisation, les types de services offerts, et les prestataires de ces services. Résultats: Cent dix-sept programmes ont été recensés, dont 54 % étaient sans but lucratif et 34 % situés dans une réserve. Quatre caractéristiques principales ont été identifiées. La première était l'accent mis sur les forces plutôt que sur la pathologie ou le déficit, reflété dans les énoncés de vision et de mission des programmes, où des termes comme bien-être et résilience étaient utilisés. La deuxième caractéristique (présente dans 87 % des programmes) était l'intégration des services de santé mentale avec une gamme d'autres services et soutiens (p.ex., santé, emploi, logement). La troisième était l'offre de programmes liés au territoire (dans 34 % des programmes) comme des camps ou des activités de chasse, conçus pour promouvoir le bien-être, la guérison et le renforcement de l'identité. La quatrième caractéristique était le rôle des membres de la communauté sans formation professionnelle officielle en santé mentale (dans 42 % des programmes), par exemple en tant que travailleurs auprès des jeunes ou gardiens du savoir. Cela découle non seulement du manque de spécialistes dans de nombreux contextes autochtones, mais aussi de la valorisation des connaissances autochtones. Conclusion: Ces principales caractéristiques des services de santé mentale pour les jeunes autochtones peuvent constituer des avenues prometteuses pour les communautés cherchant à consolider les services qu'elles offrent aux jeunes des Premières Nations, Inuits et Métis.

Mental health service use of young people in child welfare services in Quebec, Canada.

Background: Youth involved in child welfare have high rates of mental health problems and are known to receive mental health services from multiple settings. Still, gaps remain in our understanding of service use patterns across settings over the course of youth's involvement with child welfare. Objective: To examine the settings, reasons for contact, persons involved in initiating care, and timing of each mental health service contact for individuals over their involvement with the child welfare system, and to identify factors that predict multi-setting use. Methods: Data on mental health service contacts were collected retrospectively from charts for youth aged 11-18 (n=226) during their involvement with child welfare services in Montreal, Quebec. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine predictors of multi-setting mental health services use (defined as ≥3 settings). Results: 83% of youth had at least one mental health service contact over the course of their child welfare services follow-up, with 45% having multi-setting use. Emergency Departments were the top setting for mental health services. Youth with a higher number of placements and from neighborhoods with greater social and material deprivation were significantly likelier to use ≥3 mental health service settings over the course of their follow-up. Conclusion: These findings suggest a need for enhanced collaboration between youth-serving sectors to ensure that continuous and appropriate mental health care is being offered to youth followed by child welfare systems. The relationship between placement instability and multi-setting mental health service use calls for specific policies to ensure that young people do not experience multiple discontinuities of care.

Contexte: Les jeunes impliqués dans le système de la protection de la jeunesse ont des taux élevés de problèmes de santé mentale et il et ils reçoivent souvent des services de santé mentale dans plusieurs types d'établissements. Pourtant, des lacunes subsistent dans notre compréhension des trajectoires d'utilisation des services à travers divers contextes au cours du suivi d'un jeune dans le système de protection de la jeunesse. Objectif: Examiner les contextes, les raisons pour les contacts, les personnes impliquées dans l'initiation des soins, et le moment de chaque contact avec les services de santé mentale pour les personnes pendant la durée de leur suivi en protection de la jeunesse et identifier les facteurs qui prédisent une trajectoire impliquant de multiples établissements. Méthodes: Des données sur les contacts avec les services de santé mentale ont été recueillies rétrospectivement des dossiers de jeunes de 11 à 18 ans (n=226) leur suivi en protection de la jeunesse à Montréal, Québec. Une analyse de régression logistique a été menée pour déterminer les prédicteurs de l'utilisation des services de santé mentale multi-établissements (définie à ≥3 établissements). Résultats: Quatre-vingt-trois pour cent des jeunes avaient au moins un contact avec un service de santé mentale au cours de leur suivi en protection de la jeunesse, et 45 % avaient une trajectoire impliquant de multiples établissements. Les services d'urgence étaient l'établissement le plus fréquenté pour les services de santé mentale. Les jeunes ayant un nombre plus élevé de placements et provenant de quartiers d'une plus grande défavorisation sociale et matérielle étaient significativement plus susceptibles d'utiliser ≥3 établissements de services de santé mentale au cours de leur suivi. Conclusion: Ces résultats démontrent le besoin d'une collaboration améliorée entre les secteurs des services aux jeunes pour faire en sorte que les jeunes en protection de la jeunesse reçoivent des soins de santé mentale continus et appropriés. La relation entre l'instabilité de placement et les trajectoires complexes à travers les services de santé mentale exige de politiques spécifiques afin d'assurer que les jeunes ne connaissent pas de multiples discontinuités de soins.

Qualitative study to explore the perspectives and mental health experiences of first episode psychosis patients and their caregivers in North India.

BACKGROUND: The onset of psychosis brings unfamiliar experiences that can be disturbing for patients and their caregivers. Few studies from India (only one from North India) have examined these experiences from the perspective of the patient and caregiver. We explored experiences of first episode psychosis (FEP) patients and their caregivers within a North Indian context. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2019 with ten FEP patients and their caregivers (total n=20) receiving out-patient care in a tertiary care centre. Topic guides focused on concerns/complaints, symptoms, help-seeking, and barriers and facilitators to treatment. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Main categories of responses from patients and caregivers included: initial complaints for seeking help, initial emotional response, barriers to seeking treatment, perceived dysfunction and improvement, experienced stigma, understanding about illness, early follow-up, preventive measures and awareness programs. Caregivers undergo myriad of emotional reactions including anger, anxiety, guilt, and confusion. Symptoms other than psychotic symptoms were the primary complaint upon seeking help, and there was lack of understanding about the psychosocial model of care (role of medications acknowledged with little awareness regarding psychosocial interventions in recovery). Persisting occupational dysfunction despite perceived symptomatic improvement was described by both patients and caregivers. CONCLUSION: North Indian patients with FEP lack awareness of symptoms. Therefore, onus for seeking help often falls on their caregivers. Psychoeducation from first contact with services and increasing awareness about psychotic illness within the community might help address lack of awareness about symptoms, mental health services, early signs of relapse, and importance of psychosocial interventions in achieving functional recovery.

Pilot study to test the feasibility and clinical efficacy of a psychosocial care programme for patients with psychosis in low-resource settings.

BACKGROUND: Home-based psychosocial care has the potential to improving outcomes in patients with schizophrenia and related disorders (SCZ). There is lack of India data for such care in early psychosis. We developed the "Saksham" programme, a bespoke self-managed home-based psychosocial care model, available in two formats: manual-based and mobile-application based. With the anticipated success of recruitment of early psychosis cases in our setting, we plan to test the such intervention in this population in future trials. AIM: To assess the feasibility of the Saksham programme intervention in people with SCZ and its clinical efficacy as an adjunct to treatment as usual. METHODS: Seventy-five patient-caregiver pairs (total n=150) were recruited. Patients received either: treatment-as-usual (TAU) (n=25), manual-based Saksham intervention+TAU (n=25), or app-based Saksham intervention+TAU (n=25). Feasibility (i.e. acceptability, practicality, demand, implementation and integration) was assessed at three-months. Participants were assessed for psychopathology, illness-severity, cognition, functioning, disability, and caregiver-coping at baseline, one-month, and three-month. The percentage changes over time were compared across three groups. RESULTS: More found the mobile application-based intervention acceptable and easy-to-use than the manual-based intervention (92 % vs 68 %, and 76 % vs 68 %, respectively). Psychopathology and caregiver-burden improved significantly in all three groups (p<0.05). Cognition, disability, functioning, and caregiver burden improved significantly in the two Saksham intervention groups, with greater improvement in the Saksham app group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Home-based intervention is feasible and acceptable in a low-resource setting, with preliminary evidence for effectiveness. These findings need corroboration with randomised controlled trials in early psychosis to ameliorate course of illness.

Examining the experiences of student peer support workers delivering care within post-secondary institutions.

Objective: Despite experiencing exacerbation of mental health issues, post-secondary students may not seek help due to perceived stigma, overreliance on the self, or preference for nonprofessional supports - including peer support. This study aimed to understand peer support workers' (PSWs) perspectives regarding providing support for mental health concerns in post-secondary institutions. Methods: 41 PSWs were recruited from two post-secondary institutions. 17 semi-structured interviews and three focus groups were conducted. Themes were identified using a qualitative descriptive approach. Results: Three themes emerged: (1) diverse presentations and approaches to operationalizing peer support for mental health issues on campus exist; (2) peer support has core ingredients; (3) reasons why students access peer support extend beyond mental health crisis. Conclusions: An inclusive peer support approach to mental health is needed for post-secondary students. Considerations for implementation hinge on providing standardized, foundational training to prepare PSWs for the complex mental health issues that present across services.

How "global" is research in early intervention for psychosis? A bibliometric analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Unlike high-income countries (HICs), there are few early intervention services for psychosis in low-and middle-income countries (LAMICs). In HICs, research spurred the growth of such services. Little is known about the state of EIP research in LAMICs, which we address by examining their research output and collaborations vis-à-vis that of HICs. METHODS: We conducted a search in Scopus database for early psychosis publications in scientific journals since 1980. Data from each record, including title, author affiliation, and date, were downloaded. For HIC-LAMIC collaborations, data on first, corresponding and last authors' affiliations, and funding were manually extracted. Descriptive statistics and social network analysis were conducted. RESULTS: Globally, early psychosis publications increased from 24 in 1980 to 1297 in 2022. Of 16,942 included publications, 16.1 % had LAMIC authors. 71.3 % involved authors from a single country (regardless of income level). 21.9 % were collaborations between HICs, 6.6 % between HICs and LAMICs, and 0.2 % among LAMICs. For research conducted in LAMICs and involving HIC-LAMIC collaborations, the first, last, and corresponding authors were LAMIC-based in 71.8 %, 60.7 %, and 63.0 %, respectively. These positions were dominated (80 %) by authors from four LAMICs. 29.4 % of the HIC-LAMIC subset was funded solely by LAMIC funders, predominantly two LAMICs. CONCLUSIONS: LAMICs are starkly underrepresented in the otherwise flourishing body of early psychosis research. They have far fewer collaborations and less funding than HICs. Closing these gaps in LAMICs where most of the world's youth live is imperative to generate the local knowledge needed to strengthen early psychosis services that are known to improve outcomes.

Development and validation of home-based psychosocial self-management interventions in schizophrenia and related disorders in low-resource settings: A mixed methods approach.

Background: Psychosocial interventions, crucial for recovery in patients with schizophrenia, have often been developed and tested in high income countries. We aimed at developing and validating home-based a booklet based psycho-social intervention with inputs from stakeholders: patients, families, and mental health professionals (MHP) for patients with schizophrenia and related disorders in low resource settings. Methods: We developed a preliminary version of psychosocial intervention booklets based on six themes derived from focus group discussions conducted with patients, families, and MHP. Initially, quantitative assessment of content validity was done by MHP on overall and Content Validity Index of individual items of the specific booklets, followed by in-depth interviews about their views. The booklets were modified based on their inputs. Further, pilot testing of manuals was done on the users - nine pairs of patients and caregivers followed by development of a final version of psycho-social intervention. Results: The percentage content validity of individual modules and overall booklets was ≥78.5% indicating good validity. Most MHP reported that the manuals were relevant and easy to use but were text-heavy, and lengthy. On pilot testing of modified manuals with patients and their family caregivers, majority (77.8%) of them found booklets useful and suggested that there should be separate booklets for both patients and caregivers for providing information and entering separate response for the activities, integrating helpful tips. Language should be simple. Finally, two sets of booklets ("info book" and "workbook") named 'Saksham' (meaning empowered) were created with specific modules (viz., 'Medicine adherence', 'Daily routine', 'Eating right', 'Physical activity', 'Physical health monitoring', 'Self-reliance', and 'Psychoeducation') for patients and caregivers each, in two languages (Hindi and English). Conclusion: Booklets with modules for psychosocial interventions for patients with schizophrenia and their caregivers were developed after establishing content validity and pilot testing.

Effectiveness of a mental health literacy module on stigma related mental health knowledge and behaviour among youth in two educational settings in Chennai, South India: A quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Improving mental health literacy (MHL) can reduce stigma towards mental illness, decreasing delays in help-seeking for mental disorders such as psychosis. We aimed to develop and assess the impact of an interactive MHL intervention on stigma related mental health knowledge and behaviour (SRMHKB) among youth in two urban colleges in South India. METHODS: Incorporating input from stakeholders (students, teachers, and mental health professionals), we developed a mental health literacy module to address SRMHKB. The module was delivered as an interactive session lasting 90 min. We recruited 600 (300 males; 300 females; mean age 19.6) participants from two city colleges in Chennai from Jan-Dec 2019 to test the MHL module. We assessed SRMHKB before the delivery of the MHL intervention, immediately after, and at 3 and 6 months after the intervention using the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS) and Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale (RIBS). We used generalised estimating equations (GEE) to assess the impact of the intervention over time. RESULTS: Compared to baseline, there was a statistically significant increase in stigma related knowledge and behaviour immediately after the intervention (coefficient=3.8; 95% CI: 3.5,4.1) and during the 3-month (coefficient=3.4; 95% CI: 3.0,3.7) and 6-month (coefficient=2.4; 95% CI: 2.0,2.7) follow-up. CONCLUSION: Preliminary findings suggest that a single 90-minute MHL interactive session could lead to improvements in SRMHKB among youth in India. Future research might utilise randomised controlled trials to corroborate findings, and explore how improvements can be sustained over the longer-term.

Protocol-based assessment and management of first episode psychosis: Comparison of short and medium-term outcomes in psychopathology, quality of life, functioning and family burden across two sites in India.

BACKGROUND: Standard assessment and management protocols exist for first episode psychosis (FEP) in high income countries. Due to cultural and resource differences, these need to be modified for application in low-and middle-income countries. AIMS: To assess the applicability of standard assessment and management protocols across two cohorts of FEP patients in North and South India by examining trajectories of psychopathology, functioning, quality of life and family burden in both. METHOD: FEP patients at two sites (108 at AIIMS, North India, and 115 at SCARF, South India) were assessed using structured instruments at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. Standard management protocols consisted of treatment with antipsychotics and psychoeducation for patients and their families. Generalised estimating equation (GEE) modelling was carried out to test for changes in outcomes both across and between sites at follow-up. RESULTS: There was an overall significant improvement in both cohorts for psychopathology and other outcome measures. The trajectories of improvement differed between the two sites with steeper improvement in non-affective psychosis in the first three months at SCARF, and affective symptoms in the first three months at AIIMS. The reduction in family burden and improvement in quality of life were greater at AIIMS than at SCARF during the first three months. CONCLUSIONS: Despite variations in cultural contexts and norms, it is possible to implement FEP standard assessment and management protocols in North and South India. Preliminary findings indicate that FEP services lead to significant improvements in psychopathology, functioning, quality of life, and family burden within these contexts.

Patient- and family-reported experiences of their treating teams in early psychosis services in Chennai, India and Montreal, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Cross-cultural psychosis research has mostly focused on outcomes, rather than patient and family experiences. Therefore, our aim was to examine differences in patients' and families' experiences of their treating teams in early intervention services for psychosis in Chennai, India [low- and middle-income country] and Montreal, Canada [high-income country]. METHODS: Patients (165 in Chennai, 128 in Montreal) and their families (135 in Chennai, 110 in Montreal) completed Show me you care, a patient- and family-reported experience measure, after Months 3, 12, and 24 in treatment. The measure assesses the extent to which patients and families view treating teams as being supportive. A linear mixed model with longitudinal data from patient and family dyads was used to test the effect of site (Chennai, Montreal), stakeholder (patient, family), and time on Show me you care scores. This was followed by separate linear mixed effect models for patients and families with age and gender, as well as symptom severity and functioning as time-varying covariates. RESULTS: As hypothesized, Chennai patients and families reported more supportive behaviours from their treating teams (ß=4.04; ß= 9, respectively) than did Montreal patients (Intercept =49.6) and families (Intercept=42.45). Higher symptom severity over follow-up was associated with patients reporting lower supportive behaviours from treating teams. Higher levels of positive symptoms (but lower levels of negative symptoms) over follow-up were associated with families reporting lower supportive behaviours from treating teams. There was no effect of time, age, gender and functioning. CONCLUSIONS: The levels to which treating teams are perceived as supportive may reflect culturally shaped attitudes (e.g., warmer attitudes towards healthcare providers in India vis-à-vis Canada) and actual differences in how supportive treating teams are, which too may be culturally shaped. Being expected to be more involved in treatment, Chennai families may receive more attention and support, which may further reinforce their involvement. Across contexts, those who improve over follow-up may see their treating teams more positively.

Youth not engaged in education, employment, or training: a discrete choice experiment of service preferences in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Prior research has showed the importance of providing integrated support services to prevent and reduce youth not in education, employment, or training (NEET) related challenges. There is limited evidence on NEET youth's perspectives and preferences for employment, education, and training services. The objective of this study was to identify employment, education and training service preferences of NEET youth. We acknowledge the deficit-based lens associated with the term NEET and use 'upcoming youth' to refer to this population group. METHODS: Canadian youth (14-29 years) who reported Upcoming status or at-risk of Upcoming status were recruited to the study. We used a discrete choice experiment (DCE) survey, which included ten attributes with three levels each indicating service characteristics. Sawtooth software was used to design and administer the DCE. Participants also provided demographic information and completed the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs-Short Screener. We analyzed the data using hierarchical Bayesian methods to determine service attribute importance and latent class analyses to identify groups of participants with similar service preferences. RESULTS: A total of n=503 youth participated in the study. 51% of participants were 24-29 years of age; 18.7% identified as having Upcoming status; 41.1% were from rural areas; and 36.0% of youth stated that they met basic needs with a little left. Participants strongly preferred services that promoted life skills, mentorship, basic income, and securing a work or educational placement. Three latent classes were identified and included: (i) job and educational services (38.9%), or services that include career counseling and securing a work or educational placement; (ii) mental health and wellness services (34.9%), or services that offer support for mental health and wellness in the workplace and free mental health and substance use services; and (iii) holistic skills building services (26.1%), or services that endorsed skills for school and job success, and life skills. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified employment, education, and training service preferences among Upcoming youth. The findings indicate a need to create a service model that supports holistic skills building, mental health and wellness, and long-term school and job opportunities.

Designing and implementing a physical exercise intervention for people with first episode psychosis using experience-based co-design: A pilot study from Chennai, India.

BACKGROUND: Physical exercise can improve outcomes for people with first-episode psychosis (FEP). Co-designing physical exercise interventions with end users has the potential to enhance their acceptability, feasibility, and long-term viability. This study's objective was to use experience-based co-design (EBCD) methodology to develop a physical exercise intervention for FEP, and pilot test it. METHODS: The study was conducted at the Schizophrenia Research Foundation's FEP program in Chennai, India. Participants(N=36) were individuals with FEP and their caregivers, mental health professionals (MHPs, and physical training experts. EBCD methodology included one-to-one interviews, focus group discussions, joint conferences, and co-design workshops. Two instructional videos were developed. Twelve FEP patients engaged in physical exercise with help of the videos over three months. They were followed up through weekly phone calls and in-person interviews to capture data on regularity, frequency, location of exercise, and comfort levels. RESULTS: Several touch points emerged from the interviews, focus groups, and joint meetings including lack of motivation, knowledge about physical exercise; differing perspectives about physical exercise; limited resource, and time constraints. Two instructional videos demonstrating activities for participants incorporated strategies that addressed these touch points. Pilot data indicated that participants engaged with the physical exercise intervention over 3 months. CONCLUSION: This was the first study to use co-design methodology to design a physical exercise intervention for first-episode psychosis. The intervention may have therefore been responsive to stakeholder needs and preferences. Results of this study highlight the potential of co-design in designing and adapting interventions. There is need for rigorous testing with larger samples.

An analysis of financial hardship faced by patients with First Episode Psychosis, and their families, in an Indian setting.

BACKGROUND: The economic burden of psychotic disorders is not well documented in LMICs like India, due to several bottlenecks present in Indian healthcare system like lack of adequate resources, low budget for mental health services and inequity in accessibility of treatment. Hence, a large proportion of health expenditure is paid out of pocket by the households. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the direct and indirect costs incurred by patients with First Episode Psychosis and their families in a North Indian setting. METHOD: Direct and Indirect costs were estimated for 87 patients diagnosed at AIIMS, New Delhi with first-episode psychosis (nonaffective) in the first- and sixth month following diagnosis, and the six months before diagnosis, using a bespoke questionnaire. Indirect costs were valued using the Human Capital Approach. RESULTS: Mean total costs in month one were INR 7991 ($107.5). Indirect costs were 78.3% of this total. Productivity losses was a major component of the indirect cost. Transportation was a key component of direct costs. Costs fell substantially at six months (INR 2732, Indirect Costs 61%). Respondents incurred substantial costs pre-diagnosis, related to formal and informal care seeking and loss of income. CONCLUSION: Families suffered substantial productivity loss. Care models and financial protection that address this could substantially reduce the financial burden of mental illness. Measures to address disruption to work and education during FEP are likely to have significant long-term benefits. Families also suffered prolonged income loss pre-diagnosis, highlighting the benefits of early and effective diagnosis.

Sociodemographic and clinical correlates of hallucinations in patients entering an early intervention program for first episode psychosis.

Hallucinations are a core feature of psychosis, and their severity during the acute phase of illness is associated with a range of poor outcomes. Various clinical and sociodemographic factors may predict hallucinations and other positive psychotic symptoms in first episode psychosis (FEP). Despite this, the precise factors associated with hallucinations at first presentation to an early intervention service have not been extensively researched. Through detailed interviews and chart reviews, we investigated sociodemographic and clinical predictors in 636 minimally-medicated patients who entered PEPP-Montréal, an early intervention service for FEP, between 2003 and 2018. Hallucinations were measured using the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), while negative symptoms were assessed using the Scale for the Assessment of Negative symptoms (SANS). Depressive symptoms were evaluated through the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), and anxiety symptoms via the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAS). A majority (n = 381, 59.9 %) of the sample presented with clinically significant hallucinations (SAPS global hallucinations score ≥ 3) at program entry. These patients had an earlier age at onset, fewer years of education, and a higher severity of delusions, depression and negative symptoms than those without clinical-level hallucinations. These results suggest that individuals with clinically significant hallucinations at admission tend to be younger and have a greater overall symptom burden. This makes it especially important to monitor hallucinations alongside delusions, depression and negative symptoms in order to identify who might benefit from targeted interventions. The implications of these findings for early intervention and person-centered care are discussed.

Patient-reported outcome measures in early psychosis: A cross-cultural, longitudinal examination of the self-reported health and self-reported mental health measures in Chennai, India and Montreal, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: Despite their acknowledged value, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are infrequently used in psychosis, particularly in low-and middle-income countries. We compared ratings on two single-item PROMs, Self-Rated Health (SRH) and Self-Rated Mental Health (SRMH), of persons receiving similar early psychosis services in Chennai, India and Montreal, Canada. We hypothesized greater improvements in SRH and SRMH in the Chennai (compared to the Montreal) sample. METHODS: Participants (Chennai N = 159/168 who participated in the larger study; Montreal N = 74/165 who participated in the larger study) completed the SRH and SRMH during at least two out of three timepoints (entry, months 12 and 24). Repeated measures proportional odds logistic regressions examined the effects of time (baseline to month 24), site, and relevant baseline (e.g., gender) and time-varying covariates (i.e., symptoms) on SRH and SRMH scores. RESULTS: SRH (but not SRMH) scores significantly differed between the sites at baseline, with Chennai patients reporting poorer health (OR: 0.33; CI: 0.18, 0.63). While Chennai patients reported similar significant improvements in their SRH (OR: 7.03; CI: 3.13; 15.78) and SRMH (OR: 2.29, CI: 1.03, 5.11) over time, Montreal patients only reported significant improvements in their SRMH. Women in Chennai (but not Montreal) reported lower mental health than men. Higher anxiety and longer durations of untreated psychosis were associated with poorer SRH and SRMH, while negative symptoms were associated with SRH. CONCLUSIONS: As hypothesized, Chennai patients reported greater improvements in health and mental health. The marked differences between health and mental health in Montreal, in contrast to the overlap between the two in Chennai, aligns with previous findings of clearer distinctions between mind and body in Western societies. Cross-context (e.g., anxiety) and context-specific (e.g., gender) factors influence patients' health perceptions. Our results highlight the value of integrating simple PROMs in early psychosis.

Mental health of Canadian youth: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining changes in depression, anxiety, and suicide-related outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to describe Canadian youth mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on changes in anxiety and depressive symptoms and suicidality. METHODS: We searched four databases up to February 2023 for longitudinal or repeated cross-sectional studies reporting on changes in depressive and anxiety symptoms, suicidality, or related services utilization among young people under 25 years old residing in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed for studies comparing depressive and anxiety symptoms from before to during the first, second, and third COVID-19 waves (up to June 2021), and between COVID-19 waves. Other studies were described narratively. Risk of bias was assessed using an adapted Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist. SYNTHESIS: Of the 7916 records screened, 35 articles met inclusion criteria for this review. Included studies were highly heterogeneous in design, population, and type of change investigated, and many had a high risk of bias. The meta-analyses found that depressive symptoms worsened minimally from pre-pandemic to wave 1 but returned to pre-pandemic levels by wave 2. Anxiety symptoms were broadly comparable from pre-pandemic to waves 1 and 2 but worsened from waves 1 to 3 and from pre-pandemic to wave 1 for girls. The narrative review included several studies that provided inconclusive evidence of increases in services utilization. CONCLUSION: The current evidence is limited and highly heterogeneous, making it insufficient to draw definitive conclusions regarding the short- to medium-term impact of the pandemic on youth mental health in Canada. Obtaining better mental health surveillance among Canadian youth is imperative.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: Cette revue systématique et méta-analyse vise à décrire la santé mentale des jeunes Canadiens pendant la pandémie de COVID-19 en ce qui concerne les changements dans les symptômes d'anxiété et de dépression et la suicidalité. MéTHODES: Nous avons cherché dans quatre bases de données, jusqu'en février 2023, des études longitudinales ou transversales répétées portant sur l'évolution des symptômes dépressifs et anxieux, de la suicidalité ou de l'utilisation des services en santé mentale chez les jeunes de moins de 25 ans résidant au Canada pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. Des méta-analyses à effets aléatoires ont été réalisées pour les études comparant les symptômes dépressifs et anxieux avant et pendant les première, deuxième et troisième vagues du COVID-19 (jusqu'en juin 2021), ainsi qu'entre les vagues de COVID-19. Les autres études ont été décrites de manière narrative. Le risque de biais a été évalué à l'aide d'une liste de contrôle adaptée du Joanna Briggs Institute. SYNTHèSE: Sur les 7 916 dossiers examinés, 35 articles répondaient aux critères d'inclusion de la présente étude. Les études retenues sont très hétérogènes en termes de conception, de population et de type de changement étudié, et un grand nombre d'entre elles présentent un risque élevé de biais. Les méta-analyses révèlent que les symptômes dépressifs se sont légèrement aggravés entre la période prépandémique et la première vague, mais qu'ils sont revenus aux niveaux prépandémiques lors de la deuxième vague. Les symptômes d'anxiété sont globalement comparables entre la période prépandémique et les vagues 1 et 2, mais se sont aggravés entre les vagues 1 et 3 et entre la période prépandémique et la vague 1 pour les filles. La revue narrative porte sur plusieurs études qui ont fourni des preuves non concluantes de l'augmentation de l'utilisation des services en santé mentale. CONCLUSION: Les données actuelles sont limitées et très hétérogènes, ce qui ne permet pas de tirer des conclusions définitives quant à l'impact à court et moyen terme de la pandémie sur la santé mentale des jeunes au Canada. Il est impératif d'améliorer la surveillance de la santé mentale des jeunes Canadiens.

Similar and different? A cross-cultural comparison of the prevalence, course of and factors associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors in first-episode psychosis in Chennai, India and Montreal, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Data from high-income countries (HICs) show a high risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) in first-episode psychosis (FEP). It is unknown, however, whether rates and associated factors differ in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). AIMS: We therefore aimed to compare the 2-year course of STBs and associated factors in persons with FEP treated in two similarly structured early intervention services in Chennai, India and Montreal, Canada. METHOD: To ensure fit to the data that included persons without STBs and with varying STBs' severity, a hurdle model was conducted by site, including known predictors of STBs. The 2-year evolution of STBs was compared by site with mixed-effects ordered logistic regression. RESULTS: The study included 333 FEP patients (168 in Chennai, 165 in Montreal). A significant decrease in STBs was observed at both sites (OR = 0.87; 95% CI [0.84, 0.90]), with the greatest decline in the first 2 months of follow-up. Although three Chennai women died by suicide in the first 4 months (none in Montreal), Chennai patients had a lower risk of STBs over follow-up (OR = 0.44; 95% CI [0.23, 0.81]). Some factors (depression, history of suicide attempts) were consistently associated with STBs across contexts, while others (gender, history of suicidal ideation, relationship status) were associated at only one of the two sites. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to compare STBs in FEP between two distinct geo-sociocultural contexts (an HIC and an LMIC). At both sites, STBs reduced after treatment initiation, suggesting that early intervention reduces STBs across contexts. At both sites, for some patients, STBs persisted or first appeared during follow-up, indicating need for suicide prevention throughout follow-up. Our study demonstrates contextual variations in rates and factors associated with STBs. This has implications for tailoring suicide prevention and makes the case for more research on STBs in FEP in diverse contexts.