Welcome to the EPPIC website

The Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) is an integrated and comprehensive psychiatric service aimed at addressing the needs of people aged 15-24 with emerging psychotic disorders in the western and north-western regions of Melbourne. EPPIC is a specialist clinical program of Orygen Youth Health (OYH) which is itself a component service of NorthWestern Mental Health and Melbourne Health.

This website is intended to provide information for clinicians working with people who may be experiencing an emerging psychotic disorder.

 

Disclaimer

This website is intended to provide general information only. It does not provide specific advice, and is made available on the condition that EPPIC, Orygen Youth Health, the University of Melbourne, NorthWestern Mental Health, Melbourne Health, the authors and others involved in its production and dissemination shall not be held responsible or liable for the results of any actions taken as a result of information or opinions within it.

Early Psychosis News

Caregiver psychoeducation for first-episode psychosis.

Guidelines for the management of a first-episode of psychosis (FEP) by the International Early Psychosis Association (IEPA) have recommended family psychoeducation (PE) but there has been a dearth of evidence for this approach in FEP, although good evidence exists for PE in multi-episode families. McWilliams and colleagues offered 31 families a 6-week multi-family group program  of 90 minute sessions specifically designed for families dealing with a FEP covering terminology, diagnosis and prognosis; psychological processes in psychosis and the model of CBT; medication and biological aspects of psychosis; rehabilitation; insight; and relapse prevention with a focus on giving caregivers strategies to assist their family member. 

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Remission rates for people for at risk mental state study

The concept of intervention in the pre-psychotic (or ‘prodromal’) phase has allowed researchers to focus on the prevention of psychosis. The main approach taken to date has been to identify young people considered to be at ’ultra high risk’ (UHR) of developing psychosis, using the ‘UHR criteria’. Such efforts have always been embedded in significant ethical implications, mostly due to the fact that the majority of young people who meet the UHR criteria will not go on to develop psychosis. The controversy surrounding our readiness to apply these criteria to clinical populations has recently come to a head with the proposal of a ‘risk syndrome’ in the forthcoming DSM-V. It is therefore timely to consider the outcomes for those who meet the UHR criteria.

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The cost effectiveness of early intervention for psychosis: a report by Access Economics
Access Economics was asked by the Orygen Research Centre to compare the cost effectiveness of providing either early intervention or treatment as usual to individuals who experience a first episode of psychosis. Access Economics defined ‘early intervention treatment’ (EI) as: …“the use of low-dose atypical medications, cognitive behavioural therapy, family interventions, vocational recovery programs, continuing care programs that focus on relapse prevention…(and)…substance misuse interventions”. Access Economics also defined ‘treatment as usual’ (TAU) as: …“the provision of high doses of antipsychotic medication, hospitalisation in all acute episodes…(and an)…absence of structured interventions.”
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Need Help Now?

If you or someone you care about need help dealing with a mental health problem there are a range of people who can help. 

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EPPIC is a program of Orygen Youth Health, funded by the Victorian Department of Human Services, and is affiliated with other organisations working with young people in early intervention.