Previous studies show that early, specialized intervention in adults over the age of 18 with first-time psychosis provides a better treatment result in the form of a greater reduction of symptoms, less substance abuse, fewer hospitalizations, faster recovery, greater satisfaction with the treatment and an improvement in function, compared to the standard treatment. However, there are no studies to date that have investigated the effect of early specialized intervention in patients with psychosis under the age of 18.

The OPUS-YOUNG-treatment

The outpatient OPUS-YOUNG treatment is offered for 2 years and is based on three core OPUS elements: outreach, integrated treatment with a low patient-case manager ratio, psycho-educational family intervention and social skills training. In addition, the OPUS-YOUNG treatment is adjusted to suit the needs of the younger age group and their families, including siblings. There will be a special focus on transition to adult psychiatry, manualized medical treatment, prevention and treatment of substance abuse, as well as retention in school/education/work.

The OPUS-YOUNG-trial

The effect of the treatment is assessed after 12 and 24 months by comparing the effect of the treatment in patients receiving the OPUS-YOUNG treatment with patients receiving the standard treatment. In addition, the participants are examined after 30 months, i.e. half a year after completing OPUS-YOUNG treatment.

If the OPUS-YOUNG treatment proves to be more effective than the standard treatment, it has implications for the future treatment of children and young people with first-time psychosis. There is currently a lack of evidence guiding clinical practice for the best treatment for this serious mental illness at a very important time in young people's lives. The OPUS-YOUNG treatment, which integrates cognitive behavioral therapeutic and psycho-educational techniques in the treatment role, has great potential for improving children and young people's symptoms and functioning, as well as opportunities to follow schooling and education, which are central to an independent life. In addition, the OPUS-YOUNG treatment can help to reduce the number of hospitalizations and reduce​ societal costs for this vulnerable patient group. The close collaboration with the patients' relatives is expected to be of great relevance to the relatives in the form of reduced stress, greater satisfaction and increased opportunities for continued attachment to the labor market.

The primary outcome measure in the OPUS-YOUNG trial is the patients' social functioning measured on the Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP). Prior to the OPUS-YOUNG study, the research group investigated the reliability of the PSP scale in the study PSP – Inter-rater reliability of the Personal and Social Performance Scale in Danish adolescents with psychosis.