Development and Pilot Testing of a Nurse Care Manager Role in Coordinated Specialty Care for Early Psychosis

What is it about?

A first episode of psychosis represents a critical period for prevention of significant health disparities. People who live with schizophrenia have 2-3 times the risk of premature death from chronic diseases (such as cardiovascular disease) compared to the general population. Coordinated Specialty Care is an effective team-based approach that improves outcomes among youth and young adults with a first episode of psychosis but CSC models do not systematically address chronic disease risk. Working with the network of CSC teams in Washington state, we co-developed a nurse care management role for the team and demonstrated its feasibility and acceptability in a 6-month pilot.

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