The Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) works with young people with psychotic disorders. These disorders can cause acute distress and confusion in a young person, as well as for their family and friends, and professionals. EPPIC aims to facilitate the early identification and treatment of psychosis and therefore reduce the disruption to the young person’s functioning and psychosocial development.
Without specialised services like EPPIC, there can be a long delay before a young person manages to access appropriate treatment and during this time problems can intensify. These delays can be very damaging to a young person experiencing a psychotic illness because their maturation is often put on hold, their social and family relationships are strained or severed and their vocational prospects are derailed. Secondary problems such as substance abuse, unemployment and behavioural problems may develop or intensify and the illness itself may become more deeply entrenched.
Service Options
- Case management which may include home visits
- Support to families and carers
- Specialised treatments, including psychological therapy, medication and family work
- Psychosocial recovery options such as group programs, vocational and educational supports/services, youth and family participation
- Neuropsychological and occupational therapy interventions
- Referral and liaison with other community agencies (eg. drug and alcohol, employment or youth services)
Treatment Goals
- Early identification and treatment of the primary symptoms of psychotic illness
- Improve access and reduce delays in initial treatment
- Educate the young person and family about the illness
- Reduce the frequency and severity of relapse
- Reduce the risk of other health-related problems developing
- Reduce disruption to social and vocational functioning
- Promote wellbeing among family members and carers
- Support the young person during their recovery
- Develop a plan for maintaining mental health