A Psychological Treatment to Facilitate Recovery in Early Psychosis

Despite the effectiveness of medication in reducing
symptoms in people who have experienced a first
episode of psychosis, persistent functional
impairments are common, and are associated with an
increased risk for relapse and a poor long-term
prognosis. Adjunctive psychosocial interventions
are needed to address these functional impairments
and to assist with improving illness self-management
and psychological adjustment.

The Graduated Recovery Intervention Program (GRIP)
is a novel cognitive-behavioral therapy program
designed to facilitate symptomatic and functional
recovery in people who have experienced an initial
episode of psychotic illness. Above all else, GRIP
aims to help people to develop increased self-
efficacy and hope, and to move forward by setting
and achieving personally meaningful goals.

In this book, the treatment development process of
GRIP is described. An overview of the treatment
approach, including specific treatment phases and
prescribed interventions, is provided. Finally,
data from an open feasibility trial of this
intervention are presented.