CBT for those at risk of a first episode psychosis : evidence-based psychotherapy for people with an 'at risk mental state'

Mental illness is highly prevalent in the general population and has its onset mostly in adolescence and young adulthood. Early intervention usually leads to improved prognosis. This book describes an evidence-based cognitive behavioural intervention that can be used by clinicians to treat the precursor symptoms of psychosis and other severe mental illness to help reduce the chance of transition to a first psychotic episode and to improve the chance for recovery. The book offers psycho-education about prepsychotic symptoms; a review of literature about psychological processes that are known to play a role in the development of psychosis; a comprehensive manual that can be used to treat help-seeking subjects with an increased risk of developing psychosis; links to online resources and exercises to be used in therapy and education; and a description of the randomized clinical trial investigating this new psychotherapy.