Psychoeducation and Psychosis

DESCRIPTION

Psychoeducation typically refers to the provision of mental health information (e.g., regarding diagnosis, treatment, prognosis) for patients and their families. Psychoeducation is one of the cornerstones of effective mental health care, particularly when it comes to psychosis (e.g., schizophrenia-spectrum disorders) since psychosis-spectrum experiences and related disorders are generally misunderstood and highly stigmatized. Numerous studies have found that providing psychoeducation to individuals experiencing psychosis (e.g., Lincoln & Nestoriuc, 2007) and their family members (e.g., Sin et al., 2017) can improve mental health knowledge and ameliorate some family worries, and potentially reduce stigma and improve treatment outcomes. In this webinar, we will review psychosis psychoeducation, including various models and approaches, as well as specific considerations for special populations (e.g., clinical high risk for psychosis, first-episode psychosis). Important intersectional considerations will also be weaved in throughout the webinar and closely reviewed with a patient vignette.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Conceptualize and define psychoeducation
• Understand the importance of psychosis psychoeducation
• Apply psychosis psychoeducation skills in a developmentally-appropriate and culturally sensitive manner

PRESENTER

Joseph DeLuca, Ph.D., is an NIMH-T32 Postdoctoral Fellow at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, specializing in psychosis-risk and the early stages of psychosis. He earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the City University of New York Graduate Center and completed his predoctoral internship at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. DeLuca’s research and clinical interests include screening and treatment for psychosis-spectrum symptoms, particularly with youth and families, as well as stigma, the role of culture and context in psychosis, and the intersection of mental illness and the criminal justice system.

AUDIENCE

Mental health professionals, mental health advocates, mental health graduate students, people with lived mental health experience, young people interested in mental health, and others who work with/on behalf of individuals diagnosed with mental illness