Largest study of its kind reveals that many psychiatric disorders arise from common genes
In the largest-ever study of its kind researchers identified more than 100 genetic variants that affect the risk for more than one mental health condition.
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Contact Information
Wang Building, Suite 815
55 Fruit Street
Boston,
MA
02114
Phone: 617-724-7792
In case of a psychiatric emergency please call 911 or go immediately to the closest emergency room for evaluation.
The First-Episode and Early Psychosis Program (FEPP) at Massachusetts General Hospital evaluates and treats people who:
We also strongly support the use of education—of families, of medical professionals and of the general public—to decrease the stigma surrounding schizophrenia and psychotic illness, and improve access to care for those who suffer from psychosis. We do not treat patients with co-occuring developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders.
People experiencing psychosis may wait months or even years before seeking treatment for several reasons:
It is also not uncommon for patients and their families to deny the problem altogether or simply want to wish it away.
Part of our program's mission is to spread the message that psychosis rarely goes away on its own. In fact, the longer it goes untreated, the more severe it can become. The FEPP team specializes in the detection and evaluation of psychosis, which is often missed by general practitioners.
That's why many of the most successful FEPP patients are those who recognize and seek treatment for their symptoms of psychosis as early as possible.
Mass General's First-episode and Early Psychosis Program (FEPP) offers highly specialized evaluation, treatment and education for people in the early stages of schizophrenia or who may be experiencing psychosis for the first time.
Early intervention is the core of our program’s mission. Research shows that early diagnosis and treatment can help people recover from their illness more quickly. It can also lessen the problems typically associated with untreated psychosis, such as unemployment, substance abuse, hospitalization, disruption to relationships, interruption of education and suicidal behavior.
Our program offers:
At the First-episode and Early Psychosis Program (FEPP) we know from experience that getting you the help you need when psychosis first develops is critical to recovery. Our program offers a variety of services to assist in your recovery process:
Prior to your first visit we ask that the following items are faxed to the First-episode and Early Psychosis Program:
All information should be faxed to 617-726-7541 prior to your appointment. Please keep original copies for your own records. This information will be carefully reviewed by a clinician prior to your appointment, which will greatly enhance the quality of your initial evaluation.
At your initial visit, you will meet with a member of our clinical team. The clinical team member will ask you questions about your medical history, mental health and medications to determine what treatments would be most beneficial.
Based on your initial visit, we will determine what treatment program will best meet your needs. You may be offered ongoing treatment through the First-episode and Early Psychosis Program (FEPP) or you may be directed to other appropriate treatment options.
Some of the treatments available at FEPP include:
If you enter the program, program participation is limited to two years. At that point, we will evaluate your need for continued treatment and can assist with a transition to appropriate care.
In Case of Emergency: If you have a psychiatric emergency, please call 911 or go immediately to the closest emergency room for evaluation.
Education for patients and family members is a cornerstone of our care model. We partner with families to ensure they understand the disease and equip them with coping strategies. We teach family members to assist patients with their recovery by:
Learn more about the FEPP program and what to expect during treatment.
Watch archived videos from the annual Schizophrenia Education Day.
Find educational resources for patients and families facing a schizophrenia diagnosis.
We strive to schedule evaluations quickly after we have received a patient's complete clinical information. All second opinion consultations must be initiated by the treating clinician. All patients first undergo a full clinical evaluation by a psychiatrist who presents the information to a team of psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers who specialize in diagnosing and treating people with schizophrenia to determine:
Occasionally a patient may disagree with our clinical determination regarding whether psychosis is present. In these cases, we can still help the patient manage problems areas such as sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression or stress-related problems. Treatment within the First Episode and Early Psychosis Program is limited to two years. At that point, we will evaluate the patient’s need for continued treatment and assist with a transition to appropriate care.
Our doctors and nurse practitioners aim to prescribe the lowest effective doses and fewest possible medications. We understand there is a need for balance in taking psychiatric medications, and we strive to ensure that the benefits outweigh any possible side effects. Open communication regarding medication is strongly encouraged.
We consider not only the psychiatric well-being of patients but also the physical well-being. An FEPP doctor may determine that medication may be an effective option to help patients:
Used in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy and family education and support, medication can also decrease stress, so patients can participate more effectively in their therapy.
We believe comprehensive treatment includes both medication and therapy. FEPP offers a highly specialized treatment known as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Originally developed to treat depression, CBT is a form of “talk” therapy that has been demonstrated to be highly effective in treating distress, anxiety and other symptoms associated with psychosis. A CBT therapist can help:
FEPP patients typically attend 16 sessions including three to four sessions of guidance and support for family members during the first six to eight months of treatment.
For 80 years, Mass General's Psychiatry Department has provided the highest quality patient care through pioneering research.
In the largest-ever study of its kind researchers identified more than 100 genetic variants that affect the risk for more than one mental health condition.
The First-episode and Early Psychosis Program (FEPP) evaluates and treats people in the critical early stages of schizophrenia or related psychotic illnesses.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital are using brain imaging technology to learn more about how individuals with autism and schizophrenia view the world through different lenses.
Frequently asked questions about psychosis and schizophrenia for both patients and family members.
With the advent of noninvasive brain stimulation techniques, clinicians now have at their disposal easy, safe methods to modulate brain activity.
Toward treatment and recovery from schizophrenia.
The integration of patient care and clinical research has been a hallmark of the Department of Psychiatry for more than 30 years. Today, the department has the largest clinical research program in the hospital, with studies at the forefront of neuroscience, molecular biology and genetics.