Intervention Module AGES

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a structured psychoeducational group intervention for adolescents with early onset psychosis and their families. The intervention was implemented in parallel in 2 separate groups, by focusing specifically on problem solving strategies and structured psychosis-related information to manage daily life hassles associated with the disease in order to manage crises and prevent relapses.

Method: The investigators performed a 9-month, randomized, rater-blind clinical trial involving adolescent patients with early onset psychosis and 1 or both of their parents. The primary outcomes were number of hospitalizations, days of hospitalization, and visits to the emergency department. The secondary outcome measures were clinical variables and family environment and well being.

Inclusion criteria

• The presence of at least one positive psychotic symptom (delusions or hallucinations)
• Before age 18 diagnosed by DSM-IV
• Aged between 14 and 19 years and lived at home with 1 or both parents, caregivers, or legal guardians.

Exclusion criteria

• The exclusion criteria were patient's drug abuse or dependence at the time of the intervention (drug use was not an exclusion criterion), the presence of any neurological developmental disorder or mental retardation and inability to engage in conversation or read in Spanish that may interfere with the progress of group treatment.