NAVIGATE Program Directors’ Perspectives on Treatment for Early Psychosis

Objective: Since the release of the Recovery After Initial Schizophrenia Episode-Early Treatment Program results in 2015, the United States Congress expanded funding for early intervention programs and these programs now exist in every state. The purpose of the present study was to understand the real-world experience of NAVIGATE Program Directors with respect to identifying and recruiting patients with early psychosis and engaging families in treatment. Method: Utilizing a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, researchers surveyed 32 program directors in 13 states and engaged in 22 follow-up interviews to explore how NAVIGATE is being translated to serve individuals experiencing early psychosis and their families. Results: We found that program directors using the NAVIGATE model encountered difficulty identifying diagnosis at admission and that supporting families of individuals experiencing psychosis was an important aspect of the program with unique complexity. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: These findings have important implications for future mental health research on early intervention programs and may serve to stimulate future research on how early intervention mental health programs can better serve individuals recovering from psychosis and support their families.