Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) updates 

This page will be updated until end of March 2023, when the programme is due to come to an end. 

 

EIP National network events 

EIP National Network Event (January 2023), at this event we were delighted to welcome Professor Sir Robin Murray and Dr Marta Di Forti to speak on the topic of ‘Cannabis and Psychosis’. Professor Sir Robin Murray spoke about the impact of cannabis on the nature and incidence of psychosis, while Dr Di Forti focused on the treatment of cannabis-induced psychosis.

Resources from this event:

  • Recording from event
  • During the event, the audience has raised many interesting questions that we did not have the chance to cover. Professor Sir Robin Murray and Dr Marta Di Forti have provided answers in writing to the questions that were not answered during the live event. Answers can be read here.

EIP Workshop (December 2022), focusing on the topic of “Reducing physical health risks through early intervention”. For too long the physical health of people with lived experience of psychosis has been neglected. This workshop explores the causes of reduced life expectancy in this group and what can be done to combat it. It explains how to screen and intervene for the modifiable physical health risk factors. Good practice is shared, including the introduction of health instructors to teams.

Resources from this event:

EIP National Network Event (October 2022), focusing on the topic of 'Paths to Recovery': This webinar focuses on youth friendly approaches to social and vocational recovery after psychosis. It showcases how early intervention teams can help young people recover by working with third sector organisations to offer opportunities to participate in groups and activities that help young people come together and enjoy life. The value of an employability worker is also demonstrated.

Resources from this event:

EIP National Network Event (September 2022): Dr Karen O’Connor has been the National Clinical Lead of the Early Intervention in Psychosis Clinical Programme in Ireland since January 2020. At the EIP National Network Event, she gave an overview of ‘Are we there yet? Developing Early Intervention in Psychosis Services in Ireland’.

Resources from this event:

EIP National Network Event (August 2022): Dr Erin Turner gave a talk on the topic of ‘Antipsychotics and physical health in first episode psychosis: the good, the bad and the ugly’.

Dr Erin Turner is a Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Lead of Solihull Early Intervention for Psychosis Service. She is Head of the Psychiatry Teaching Academy for Aston and Birmingham Medical schools. Her textbook ‘Recovery from a first episode of Psychosis’, co-authored with the UK Early Intervention pioneers, focusses on symptomatic and social recovery from psychosis. Erin is a Trustee of Beyond, a mental health charity fronted by Jonny Benjamin, MBE. She is a Director of Hearth Centre, using the ‘arts’ to teach and promote wellbeing.

Resources from this event:

EIP National Network Event (March 2022): We were delighted to have Professor Rachel Upthegrove present on the topic of "Early Intervention in Psychosis: Recovery and Suicide Prevention". 

Rachel Upthegrove is Professor of Psychiatry and Youth Mental Health at the University of Birmingham, and Consultant Psychiatrist in the Birmingham Early Intervention Services. She trained in Medicine at the Royal Free Hospital, University of London and completed Psychiatry Training in Birmingham. She completed her PhD at the University of Birmingham, investigating depression and suicidality in early stages of psychosis. 

Her recent research interest is the identification of underlying mechanisms and treatment options for co-morbidity in early stages of schizophrenia. Recent projects include the investigation of inflammatory mechanisms and phenotypic profile of psychosis, and the use of data science to develop stratification in heterogeneous, early phases of developing mental ill health.

Resources from this event:

EIP National Network Event (December 2021): In this session, Professor Birchwood gave a comprehensive overview of the story of reform of early psychosis services in England and shared some important lessons relevant for the Scottish context. 

Max Birchwood is Professor of Youth Mental Health in the Medical School at University of Warwick. He pioneered the concept and practice of EIP in the UK and internationally and he opened the UK’s first EIP service in 1994. The service attracted Beacon status and has been replicated with over 140 teams across England and internationally. 

Professor Birchwood’s breakthrough research on psychosis has been incorporated into Scottish SIGN and UK NICE guidelines for schizophrenia. He has undertaken extensive work developing the cognitive model of 'voices', particularly the role of appraisals of voices' power and their role in driving affective dysregulation and compliance with command hallucinations. He is a recipient of the International Early Psychosis Association’s (IEPA) Richard Wyatt prize for ‘outstanding contribution to early psychosis research and treatment’.

Resources from this event:

  

Sway newsletters 

Newsletter (December 2022): The final newsletter of 2022 was our first joint news with the other programmes in the mental health improvement portfolio. It shares some of our highlights of the year. Continue reading ...

Newsletter (November 2022): Our November newsletter shares our 2nd case study on engaging with stakeholders. National team and pathfinder sites updates are included as well as a spotlight on our project officer Andrew Robinson. Continue reading ...

Newsletter (October 2022): Welcome to the October edition of the Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) monthly newsletter! This month we are sharing highlights including updates on the ongoing work in pathfinder sites and an introduction to Fiona Lacey, Improvement Advisor for the EIP national team. Continue reading ...

Newsletter (September 2022): Our September edition includes an update on NHS Tayside's journey so far, our first case study "Understanding systems: Collecting baseline data" and a spotlight on Donna Petrie, Team Leader for the EIP team in NHS Tayside. Continue reading ...

Newsletter (August 2022): Our August edition includes updates on the ongoing work in our pathfinder sites NHS Dumfries & Galloway and NHS Tayside, details about events and introduces our admin officer in the EIP national team, Deborah Creedy. Continue reading ...

Newsletter (July 2022): The July edition of the newsletter highlights national programme updates, ongoing work in our pathfinder sites, upcoming events and a spotlight on Andra Coldea, Knowledge and Information Skills Specialist in the EIP national team. Also delighted to announce that NHS Tayside's EIP service has now gone live. Continue reading ...

Newsletter (June 2022): In the June edition of the newsletter we were delighted to announce that the Early Intervention in Psychosis service in NHS Dumfries & Galloway has gone live. In the newsletter you can follow the journey of NHS Dumfries & Galloway by reading about the support provided by the national team, read a 'spotlight on' section with David Ruddick, EIP Team Lead and Key Worker in NHS Dumfries & Galloway and find out what's next for NHS Dumfries & Galloway. Continue reading ...

Newsletter (May 2022): In the May edition of the newsletter, we provide staff updates, and we introduce the new EIP national programme senior improvement advisor. In the 'Spotlight On' section, Jean Campbell has shared her experience as a passionate carer and volunteer hoping to make a difference. Updates from pathfinder sites, information about upcoming events and additional resources are provided. Continue reading ...

Newsletter (April 2022): In this edition of the newsletter, we provide an overview of the EIP national programme working groups, provide updates on the progress of pathfinder sites, upcoming events and additional resources. We are also introducing Karen Martin, Mental Health Development Coordinator (Scotland) at Carers Trust. Continue reading ...

Newsletter (March 2022): In this edition of the newsletter, we provide an overview of the EIP national programme stakeholders, provide updates on the progress of pathfinder sites, upcoming events and additional resources. We are also introducing Dr. Rajeev Krishnadas, National Clinical Lead for Psychiatry for EIP. Continue reading ...

Newsletter (February 2022): In this edition of the newsletter, we introduce the team, provide information on pathfinder sites' progress, upcoming events, and additional resources. We introduce Hamish Kidd, Engagement Project Worker in the EIP national programme. Continue reading ...

Newsletter (January 2022): In the first edition of the year, we share the aim and main areas of work of the EIP national programme, updates from pathfinder sites, and information about upcoming events. We introduce Sarah Wilson, Senior Project Officer of the EIP national programme. Continue reading ...

Newsletter (December 2021): In this edition of the newsletter, we share updates from pathfinder sites and information about past and upcoming events. We introduce April Masson, Senior Improvement Advisor and Programme Lead of the EIP national programme. Continue reading ...

Newsletter (November 2021): In the first edition of the monthly newsletter, we took the opportunity to introduce the EIP national programme and provide some background on the work undertaken in Phase 1, as well as outlining plans for Phase 2 of the programme. We introduce Dr Suzy Clark, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and the clinical lead for the EIP national programme, who gives an account of the early intervention services in Esteem NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Continue reading ...