title: Family-focused treatment for adolescents and young adults at high risk for psychosis: results of a randomized trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Longitudinal studies have begun to clarify the phenotypic characteristics of adolescents and young adults at clinical high risk for psychosis. This 8-site randomized trial examined whether a 6-month program of family psychoeducation was effective in reducing the severity of attenuated positive and negative psychotic symptoms and enhancing functioning among individuals at high risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescents and young adults (mean age 17.4 ± 4.1 years) with attenuated positive psychotic symptoms, brief and intermittent psychosis, or genetic risk with functional deterioration were randomly assigned to 18 sessions of family-focused therapy for individuals at clinical high risk (FFT-CHR) in 6 months or 3 sessions of family psychoeducation (enhanced care [EC]). FFT-CHR included psychoeducation about early signs of psychosis, stress management, communication training, and problem-solving skills training, whereas EC focused on symptom prevention. Independent evaluators assessed participants at baseline and 6 months on positive and negative symptoms and social-role functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 129 participants, 102 (79.1%) were followed up at 6 months. Participants in FFT-CHR showed greater improvements in attenuated positive symptoms over 6 months than participants in EC (F1,97 = 5.49, p = .02). Negative symptoms improved independently of psychosocial treatments. Changes in psychosocial functioning depended on age: participants more than 19 years of age showed more role improvement in FFT-CHR, whereas participants between 16 and 19 years of age showed more role improvement in EC. The results were independent of concurrent pharmacotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions that focus on improving family relationships may have prophylactic efficacy in individuals at high risk for psychosis. Future studies should examine the specificity of effects of family intervention compared to individual therapy of the same duration and frequency. Clinical trial registration information-Prevention Trial of Family Focused Treatment in Youth at Risk for Psychosis; http://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT01907282.
authors: University of California, Los Angles (UCLA) School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA. Electronic address: dmiklowitz@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Miklowitz
authors: Yale University, New Haven, CT.
authors: Mary P
authors: MP
authors: O'Brien
authors: University of California, San Francisco, CA.
authors: Danielle A
authors: DA
authors: Schlosser
authors: Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Addington
authors: Zucker Hillside Hospital, NY.
authors: Kristin A
authors: KA
authors: Candan
authors: Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Marshall
authors: University of California, San Diego.
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Domingues
authors: Yale University, New Haven, CT.
authors: Barbara C
authors: BC
authors: Walsh
authors: University of California, Los Angles (UCLA) School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA.
authors: Jamie L
authors: JL
authors: Zinberg
authors: University of California, Los Angles (UCLA) School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA.
authors: Sandra D
authors: SD
authors: De Silva
authors: Mental Health Center Division of Public Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Friedman-Yakoobian
authors: Yale University, New Haven, CT.
authors: Tyrone D
authors: TD
authors: Cannon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000379:methods; D004505:Education, Nonprofessional / Q000379:methods; D005195:Family Relations; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011340:Problem Solving; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: attenuated psychotic symptoms; early warning signs; family therapy; psychoeducation; schizophrenia