Early Intervention Services Versus Generic Community Mental Health Services: A Paradigm Shift

Early intervention in psychosis is not a recent idea and delaying or preventing young people from psychosis has always been an aspiration. During the 20th century the signs and symptoms of the prodromal state were pointed out. However, the research did not make any clinically relevant step forward until the last 20 years when the new evidences have brought an entire change in psychopathology. More specific and sensitive tools for the diagnosis have raised and the clinical trials have led clinical evidence for different treatments. Nearby the generic community mental health services, more specialized early intervention services have grown and now are recommended as best practice by several national and international guidelines, conducting the whole field of psychiatry to a paradigm shift.