New psychotherapy programs supporting patients with schizophrenia
New psychotherapy programs supporting patients with schizophrenia
At Waypoint, approximately half of our patients have a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia - a chronic and severe mental illness that is associated with premature mortality and high disease burden. Despite well-established evidence, gaps continue in the availability of services to support adults living with the disease. To address this gap, Health Quality Ontario released Schizophrenia Quality Standards for care in hospitals. These standards include a series of 11 statements that are actionable, measurable and grounded in the best available evidence - helping patients and families know what they should expect around medications and psychotherapies.
As part of this initiative, Waypoint trained 10 clinicians in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp) and Family Intervention Therapy, and are about to begin offering the service to patients and their families. These therapies are being offered in unison with long–acting injectables and clozapine, implementing four of the 11 standards for care in hospitals.
Peter Dangerfield, a social worker trained in CBTp, is pleased patients and their families will have increased access to these psychotherapies. “All 10 clinicians have made a long-term commitment to meet patients where they're at, at times that are convenient to them. I’m excited for the opportunity to be working with patients living in the community as well as from the regional and forensic programs - allowing us to evaluate the program’s effectiveness for different patient populations.”
People with schizophrenia have a right to services provided in an environment that promotes hope, empowerment, and optimism, and that are embedded in the values and practices associated with recovery-oriented care. The implementation of these standards is respectful of their rights and dignity and promotes self-determination on their path toward mental health and well-being. Stay tuned as the program takes shape and we're able to evaluate its effectiveness.