early psychosis ; community psychiatry ; stigma ; schizophrenia ; critical period
Abstract
Two key philosophical questions face the early psychosis movement: 1) Can we really
prevent or decrease the incidence of schizophrenia using early interventions with those at
high risk for psychosis? and 2) Can optimal biopsychosocial treatment during the critical period
of 5 years after onset really stop the progression of the illness after the first episode? Although
the correlations between decreased duration of untreated psychotic symptoms and good
treatment outcomes and between early intervention with individuals at high risk for psychosis
and prevention of the onset of schizophrenia remain controversial. Clinicians agree that earlier
treatment is better than later treatment. Thus, the early psychosis movement has emerged
from certain philosophical commitments and humanistic perspectives. This article describes
developments occurring in Korea with respect to research on and treatment of early psychosis