# Feasibility of an Early Detection Program for Early Psychosis on a College Campus

> **NIH NIH R34** · UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR · 2020 · $225,196

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Although evidence on community-based early detection (ED) programs aimed to reduce
prolonged durations of untreated psychosis (DUP) is large and growing, very little is known
about the effectiveness of ED services on college campuses in the United States. This gap in
the literature is problematic because, with the first symptoms of psychosis being most likely to
surface among college age young adults, college campuses are hubs for individuals at an age
of increased risk of first episode psychosis (FEP). The long-term goal of our program of
research is to improve clinical and functional outcomes among college students with early
stages of psychosis by reducing DUP. The objective of our proposed study is to determine the
feasibility of an ED program that aims to: (i) identify college students at clinical high risk (CHR)
of psychosis or with FEP, and (ii) efficiently link them to coordinated specialty care (CSC)
services for a 2nd stage screen, a clinical assessment, and appropriate treatment. We will also
provide preliminary estimates of effectiveness with respect to the intervention. Our ED program
will include two organizational level changes. First, we will implement universal screening (i.e.,
the Prodromal Questionnaire Brief) for psychosis among college students who are seeking help
at a college counseling center. Second, we will implement a collaborative, person-centered, and
rapid referral process (<2 weeks) to CSC. Person-centered elements of the referral process
include shared-decision making and a warm handoff. Our central hypotheses are that our multi-
level ED program will be feasible, and that preliminary data will show an increase in the number
of referrals of college students to CSC. Furthermore, DUP will be shorter and there will be fewer
steps and perceived barriers to care among college students referred to CSC through our ED
program compared to college students who present to CSC from other referral sources. Our
hypotheses will be tested by pursing two specific aims: 1) Identify whether (i) case identification,
and (ii) referral-related barriers to CSC are important targets for ED programs on college
campuses; and 2) Evaluate the feasibility of our ED program from the perspectives of various
stakeholders. The proposed study is significant because it will produce a vertical step in the
DUP scientific field by increasing knowledge on the 1) mechanisms of change for DUP among
college students, and 2) feasibility of an ED program embedded within a college counseling
center in partnership with a CSC program. The study will also elucidate barriers to CSC among
an ethnic and racial diverse young adult population. Ultimately, such knowledge has the
potential of offering new opportunities to reduce DUP among young adults nationwide.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9995045
- **Project number:** 5R34MH120777-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** ANNETTE S CRISANTI
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $225,196
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-15 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9995045

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9995045, Feasibility of an Early Detection Program for Early Psychosis on a College Campus (5R34MH120777-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9995045. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*