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. 2017 Feb;11(1):83-90.
doi: 10.1111/eip.12299. Epub 2015 Nov 29.

McLean OnTrack: a transdiagnostic program for early intervention in first-episode psychosis

Ann K Shinn  1   2 , Kirsten W Bolton  1 , Rakesh Karmacharya  1   2 , Kathryn E Lewandowski  1   2 , Cagri Yuksel  1   2 , Justin T Baker  1   2 , Virginie-Anne Chouinard  1   2 , Samira M Pingali  1 , Hilary Bye  1 , Katherine Cederbaum  1 , Dost Öngür  1   2
Affiliations

McLean OnTrack: a transdiagnostic program for early intervention in first-episode psychosis

Ann K Shinn et al. Early Interv Psychiatry. 2017 Feb.

Abstract

Aims: Most programs specializing in the treatment of first-episode psychosis in the United States focus on schizophrenia. However, many early psychosis patients do not fit into this diagnostic category. Here we describe McLean OnTrack, an intensive outpatient treatment program that accepts all comers with first-episode psychosis.

Methods: We assessed baseline characteristics of patients in the 2.5 years since program initiation. We examined how initial referral diagnoses compare with current diagnoses, calculating the proportion of diagnostic changes.

Results: At 2.5 years, patients in McLean OnTrack consist of 30 (33.0%) individuals with primary psychotic disorder, 40 (44.0%) with affective psychosis, 19 (20.9%) with psychotic disorder not otherwise specified (NOS) who do not meet full criteria for either category and two (2.2%) individuals with no psychosis. Although patients with affective psychosis had higher pre-morbid functioning, all three categories of psychosis had similar rates of prior hospitalizations and substance use. The retention rate in the psychotic disorder NOS group was lower than that in affective and primary psychotic disorders. Finally, diagnoses changed over the course of treatment in 50.5% of patients.

Conclusions: Diagnostic heterogeneity appears to be the norm among patients with first-episode psychosis, and diagnoses commonly evolve over the illness course. Baseline indices of illness severity were similar across categories and suggest the need for early intervention, irrespective of specific diagnosis. We discuss the benefits and challenges of a transdiagnostic approach to early intervention in first-episode psychosis, treating patients who share many but not all characteristics.

Keywords: dimensional; first episode; psychosis; transdiagnostic; treatment.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Categories of psychosis in McLean OnTrack. The diagnostic compositions in the "all-enrolled" and "active-only" groups are similar.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Prevalence of pre-morbid substance use disorders (SUD) among all enrolled McLean OnTrack patients. SUD's are highly prevalent among our first-episode patients, regardless of psychosis category. Cannabis use disorders are the most common.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Engagement in McLean OnTrack. A. The retention rate in psychotic disorder, not otherwise specified (NOS) is lower than that in affective and primary psychotic disorders. B. Patients with affective psychosis or psychotic disorder, NOS comprise the majority of individuals who dropped out of treatment early.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Distribution of current diagnoses for each referral diagnosis. Diagnostic change is common for all referral diagnoses except bipolar disorder with psychotic features. The areas of the bar graph outlined with dashed lines reflect diagnoses that remained consistent.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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