# Early Stage Identification and Engagement to Reduce the Duration of Untreated Psychosis: Evaluating the Impact of Screening and Systematic Communication

> **NIH NIH R01** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2022 · $909,256

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Studies find a substantial delay between the onset of psychosis and the initiation of specialty treatment for first
episode psychosis (FEP), with the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) typically over one year in the U.S.
Better strategies are needed to improve identification of individuals with FEP and to rapidly engage them in
Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) aimed at restoring functioning. This study will investigate whether a U.S.
adaptation of a successful detection approach from the Netherlands enhanced by an innovative model of
communicating information about psychosis and treatment options to patients and families (ComPsych), can
reduce DUP. Our collaborators in the Netherlands compared screening of a consecutive help-seeking
population entering mental health services to clinician referral from mental health clinics and found that
screening captured significantly more individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR) and with FEP. Based
on the Dutch model, within the Mount Sinai Health System in New York, we have piloted and established the
feasibility of screening help-seeking youth entering mental health services with the aim of improving early
identification of FEP cases and rapid referral to specialty care (Early Stage Identification and Engagement to
Reduce DUP study (EaSIE), supported by NIMH R34). Individuals entering services are screened with the
Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief Version (PQ-B). Those who screen positive are assessed by Structured
Interview for Psychosis Risk Syndromes (SIPS) and referred to stage-specific specialty care (FEP or CHR
services). To facilitate service engagement we developed, piloted, and established feasibility of the ComPsych
model. While our data showed that compared to clinician referral, systematic screening method (SM) can
substantially reduce DUP by identifying a greater number of patients earlier in the course of illness, more
research is needed to evaluate the impact of ComPsych on FEP treatment initiation and engagement in order
to further reduce DUP. We will use a stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial design to compare a
systematic screening and communication method (SCM) to SM. Following a 6-month baseline period of SM,
12 mental health clinics will be randomized (2 clinics at a time) to transition from SM to SCM at 6-month
intervals. In both conditions, individuals aged 12-30 who screen positive on PQ-B will be assessed with SIPS
by trained clinicians in each clinic and referred to FEP and CHR services as appropriate. In SCM condition the
ComPsych model will be used to facilitate initiation of CHR and FEP services. We will measure DUP for
patients who meet psychosis criteria. We hypothesize that: (1) SCM will result in a higher number of individuals
initiating CHR and FEP services compared to SM; (2) The mean DUP of FEP individuals in SCM condition will
be lower than the mean DUP of FEP individuals in SM condition, due to the reduced time to initia...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10504604
- **Project number:** 1R01MH130354-01
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Yulia Landa
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $909,256
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-04 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10504604

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10504604, Early Stage Identification and Engagement to Reduce the Duration of Untreated Psychosis: Evaluating the Impact of Screening and Systematic Communication (1R01MH130354-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10504604. Licensed CC0.

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