Changes in health-related quality of life and functioning ability in help-seeking adolescents and adolescents at heightened risk of developing psychosis during family- and community-oriented intervention model

Abstract

Objective. Early intervention has been shown to benefit people at-risk for psychosis, but knowledge about how early intervention benefits all help-seeking adolescents is lacking. The aim of the present study was to study change in health-related quality of life (QoL) and functioning ability in help-seeking adolescents who participate in a community- and family-oriented early intervention program. Methods. The data was collected in Finland by an early-intervention team. Ninety help-seeking adolescents between 12 and 21 years of age filled out a questionnaire on QoL (16D) and functioning ability (GAF), which was assessed by workers at the beginning and at the end of the intervention. A PROD screen was used to assess heightened risk of developing psychosis. Results. QoL and functioning ability showed significant differences (p < 0.001) between the beginning and the end of the intervention, as well in a subgroup of participants at heightened risk of developing psychosis (QoL, p = 0.008; GAF, p < 0.001: n = 35). 35.6% improved over the clinical cut-off point in functioning ability and 48.6% of the subjects at-risk. 53.3% reached clinically significant improvement in QoL and 54.2% of the subjects at heightened risk of developing psychosis. Conclusions. The results suggest that there is both statistically and clinically remarkable improvement in QoL and functioning ability after a need-adapted, family- and community-oriented intervention.

Using the RE‐AIM framework to identify and describe best practice models in family‐based intervention development: A systematic review

“…However, the decision on the duration and frequency can be an arbitrary one (some were as short but intensive as 3 days and other 3-5 years); it is dependent on the content of the intervention and change objectives. For example, in Granö et al (2013), within the JERI model (Table 1), the number of meetings and the length of the intervention is dependent on familial needs and ended when improvement is noticeable. Much of the decisions regarding formatting, setting, etc.…”

“…In Belza et al (2006), the RE-AIM asks for whether or not outcomes were maintained over a year or two. Only five studies had evaluated their programme at 6 months or later: Turner et al (2007), Melo and Alarcão (2012), Granö et al (2013), Teder et al (2013), and Williamson et al (2014). Further, only two drew on RCT data in order to determine their interventions effectiveness (Bamberger et al, 2014;Turner et al, 2007;Zhong et al, 2011).…”

CAPMH health-related quality of life among adolescent psychiatric outpatients: a 12-month follow-up study among 12–14-year-old Finnish boys and girls

“…HRQoL serves as a general mental health and well-being outcome measure in treatment studies among adolescents [13, 17, 18]. In a study by Granö et al [19], a need-adapted, family- and community-oriented intervention model improved HRQoL of help-seeking adolescents with mental health problems. A significant improvement in QoL was also seen in a study investigating the treatment outcome of inpatient psychotherapy among personality disordered adolescents [20] and in a study exploring adolescent mentalization-based integrative treatment among adolescents with anxiety, depression, or psychotic symptoms [21].…”

Community-oriented family-based intervention superior to standard treatment in improving depression, hopelessness and functioning among adolescents with any psychosis-risk symptoms

“…Therefore, the family environment should be a specific target of treatment for individuals at risk for psychosis (Schlosser et al, 2010). Finally, previous studies have reported that adolescents with heightened risk of psychosis who seek help show significant improvement in psychotic experiences, quality of life, depression, anxiety, and hopelessness in a Family-and Community-orientated, need-adapted integrative treatment model (Granö et al, 2009(Granö et al, , 2013(Granö et al, , 2014.…”