LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Early mental health intervention can make a major difference for people experiencing the first signs of psychosis, and a program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is focused on helping patients and families navigate those early stages with coordinated care.
The Odyssey Clinic at UAMS is a coordinated specialty care program for first-episode psychosis, according to Craig Jones, licensed clinical social worker and program manager. The clinic works with people 16 and older who are within the first two years of developing symptoms of psychosis.
Jones said the clinic uses a four-part model that includes specialized individual therapy, family psychoeducation and support, medication management, and supportive employment and education services aimed at helping clients return to work and school.
Schizophrenia, one of the conditions the clinic addresses, affects roughly 1% to 2% of the population, Jones said, estimating about 3 million people in the United States experience it. He said schizophrenia can include “positive symptoms” such as hallucinations, disordered thinking and delusions, as well as disorganization. It can also involve “negative symptoms,” including reduced emotional expression, difficulty feeling pleasure or interest in activities, and problems with social interaction.
Jones said symptoms most commonly begin between the ages of 18 to 24, though onset can occur at any point in a person’s life. He said the program often works with younger individuals and focuses on helping them develop tools to cope and return to the parts of life that matter most to them.
For therapy, Jones said the clinic primarily uses individual resiliency training to help clients better understand their illness, learn to cope with stress, process the experience of psychosis and integrate it into their lives.
Jones said early intervention can improve outcomes. With early care, he said, many people are able to return to work and school and successfully manage the illness. He said some individuals can become symptom-free within a few weeks, or see significantly reduced symptoms. He added that working with families to help them understand what a loved one is experiencing can also reduce the burden families feel and help them provide support in effective ways.
Jones said the clinic’s name reflects the experience many patients describe. He compared it to Odysseus in “The Odyssey,” saying people can feel “adrift and lost,” and the clinic aims to help them find their way back to living successfully.
People looking for more information can visit the clinic’s website Jones said. He also provided a phone number, 501-526-7464. Jones said the clinic has locations in Little Rock and Fayetteville and works with people from across Arkansas.