Staged treatment and acceptability guidelines in early psychosis study (STAGES): A randomized placebo controlled trial of intensive psychosocial treatment plus or minus antipsychotic medication for first-episode psychosis with low-risk of self-harm or aggression. Study protocol and baseline characteristics of participants.
O'Donoghue BrianShona M FranceyBarnaby NelsonAswin RatheeshKelly AllottJessica GrahamLara BaldwinMario Alvarez-JimenezAndrew ThompsonAlex FornitoAndrea PolariMichael BerkCraig MacneilKingsley CrispChristos PantelisHok Pan YuenSusy HarriganPatrick McGorryPublished in: Early intervention in psychiatry (2018)
Staged treatment and acceptability guidelines in early psychosis will determine whether antipsychotic medications are indicated in all young people with a FEP and whether antipsychotic medication can be safely delayed. Furthermore, the relative contribution of psychotic illness and antipsychotic medication in terms of structural brain changes will also be elucidated. The findings will inform clinical practice guidelines.