Early Intervention in Psychiatric Disorders Across Cultures

Evidence indicates a correlation between early intervention and improved response in psychiatric disorders. Yet the majority of evidence is from high-income countries, and there is a lack of evidence and resources on the impact of early intervention across cultures and in low- and middle-income countries. Early Intervention in Psychiatric Disorders across Cultures aims to bridge this gap by focusing on the evidence and methods of intervention in less affluent countries. It covers mood disorders, personality disorders, addictions, and other psychiatric conditions, whilst most research has focused on psychoses and bipolar disorder. Over 17 chapters, this resource guides the reader through an array of approaches to early intervention, from brain imaging and available care pathways, to cultural and societal factors. Part of the Oxford Cultural Psychiatry series, this resource offers readers a picture of the current health care pathways available as well as social, cultural, and ethical considerations to apply in practice.

1 - Introduction
2 - Early interventions to prevent stigmatization and its consequences
3 - The role of culture in early interventions
4 - Brain changes in the early course of schizophrenia
5 - Brain Changes in psychosis: Understanding their significance as the basis for better prevention
6 - Detecting the first signs of emerging psychosis
7 - Are ethnic differences in pathways to care for psychosis in England reducinga An analysis of two population based studies of first episode psychosis in south London, UK.
8 - Early intervention for psychosis: perspective after 15 years of development
9 - Experiences and lessons from the Singapore Early Psychosis Intervention Programme
10 - Early psychosis initiative in Japan: Challenges and opportunities
11 - Family involvement in first episode psychosis: The Indian scenario
12 - From principles to practice: Translating the philosophy of early intervention to individuals with emerging bipolar disorders
13 - Early intervention in Bipolar Disorders: Setting the stage from mechanisms to models
14 - Early intervention in Personality Disorders
15 - Early detection and timely intervention for borderline personality disorder
16 - Early intervention in underage drinking: preliminary results in Brazil
17 - Where next for Early Intervention Programmesa

Professor Eric Y. H. Chen is Chi-Li Pao Foundation Chair Professor in Psychiatry at the University of Hong Kong. He has been leading the development of the early intervention for psychosis in Hong Kong (the EASY program is one of the first comprehensive early psychosis programs in Asia). Under his leadership, the HKU Psychosis Research Unit (PSI) has shown that early intervention produces better long-term outcome for patients with psychotic disorders. Professor Chen and his team has also been studying maintenance therapy in psychosis, demonstrating that after a first episode psychosis, early medication discontinuation and relapse may contribute to adverse long term outcome. Professor EChen and his team has also been studying brain mechanisms in schizophrenia, particularly language and cognitive processes. Professor Chen is one of the leaders in the field of early intervention. Dr Antonio Ventriglio is a psychiatrist working at the Department of Mental Health, and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy. Professor Dinesh Bhugra is Emeritus Professor of Mental Health and Cultural Diversity at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London. Past President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. President of the World Psychiatric Association for a three year term, 2014-2017. Non-Executive Director Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust (special interest in BAME needs and cultural mediation).