For information, please call 312-996-9986
For appointments, please call 312-996-2200
Severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia cause profound and often persistent disruption in thought content, emotions and social interaction. These are brain disorders and their treatment is a core interest of academic psychiatry. In our clinical program, a systematic diagnostic evaluation guides treatment planning, which typically involves combining antipsychotic medication with psychosocial and cognitive interventions.
The Psychotic Disorders Program is a clinical arm of the Center for Cognitive Medicine. Our clinical services are provided by psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, social workers and nurses who work in an integrated way across our inpatient and outpatient services.
Our primary clinical mission is to:
- Intervene to treat episodes of acute psychosis that typically involve hearing voices, feeling unreasonably suspicious, or having unusual beliefs.
- Provide intensive interventions at the first episode of psychosis to solidify family support, to establish an enduring treatment alliance, to provide education about the illnesses for patients and families, and to emphasize treatment compliance, and ultimately to reduce risk for recurrence of psychosis and the progressive deterioration that psychotic disorders can cause.
- Provide intensive cognitive and psychosocial interventions to prevent relapse and to enhance functional abilities throughout the course of illness .
Research
Several research studies are active in the program focusing on a comparison of medication alternatives for first episode psychosis and for persistent illness. We also conduct cognitive, neurophysiological and brain imaging studies to learn more about the causes of psychotic disorders and how to best treat them. Two current studies at the Center for Cognitive Medicine focus on cognitive and emotional functioning in individuals with persistent illness. Click on the links below to get more information about these studies.
Monitoring Cognition in Schizophrenia
Emotional Functioning in Serious Mental Illness
Specialty Clinics
Services for some patients are provided in specialty clinics. These clinics were formed to develop evidence-based interventions for specific problems, and to teach the next generation of clinicians how to treat psychotic disorders. Specialty clinics include the:
Antipsychotic medications ( Zyprexa , Risperdal , Seroquel , Clozapine , Geodon and Abilify ) have been associated with certain metabolic side-effects such as weight gain/obesity, development of Diabetes Mellitus and increased blood cholesterol. These medical problems have been linked with an increased risk for heart disease. The purpose of the metabolic pre-screening clinic is to provide early detection of patients who are taking these medications who might be at risk of developing metabolic side-effects. Education and written materials are provided to the patients, and their psychiatrist will be provided with their test results. Recommendations are made to the psychiatrist based on the severity of the problems.
- Community Reintegration Program.
A group-oriented psychiatric rehabilitation program that focuses on symptom management, learning coping skills, increasing social and occupational functioning, and prevention of hospitalization. The program includes multiple groups each day and meets 4 days a week.
Services available, in addition to the above clinics and programs are:
o Schizoaffective Group
Support for socially isolated patients with schizoaffective illness.
o Supportive Socialization Group
Group focus on socialization, support and problem solving for patients with chronic psychiatric illness. Provides a supportive milieu to maintain stabilization of symptoms and address early signs of relapse.
o Symptom Management Group
A structured group for patients experiencing their first episode (Th. AM) and pts suffering from chronic mental illness (Th. PM) better identify/manage psychiatric symptoms, improve functioning, and develop social skills.
o Weight Loss Group
For patients experiencing medication-related weight gain as an
adverse effect of pharmacological treatment.