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Early psychosis care in Brazil: a comparative study of a specialized university center and community-based services

Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To compare early intervention strategies for psychosis between community-based Psychosocial Care Centers (Centros de Atenção Psicossocial) and a specialized university service (Grupo de Atenção às Psicoses Iniciais) in Brazil, assessing early intervention fidelity, recovery-oriented practices, and professional stigma. METHODS: The First Episode Psychosis Services Fidelity Scale, Recovery Self-Assessment, and a stigma questionnaire evaluated early intervention fidelity, recovery-oriented practices, and stigma. Data from both services were analyzed to examine correlations. RESULTS: There was greater fidelity to early intervention strategies in the specialized university service, whereas the Psychosocial Care Centers scored higher in recovery-oriented practices. Despite their lower overall early intervention fidelity, the Psychosocial Care Centers already incorporated several components of early intervention. No significant differences in stigma levels were observed. Higher recovery-oriented practices correlated with fewer negative stereotypes, while greater early intervention fidelity correlated with fewer positive stereotypes. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the complementary strengths of both service models. Although improving early intervention fidelity in Psychosocial Care Centers is a priority, their existing community-based structure and orientation toward recovery offer a strong platform for expanding these services. An integrated approach combining specialized early intervention strategies with robust recovery-oriented practices could optimize outcomes and reduce stigma.
DOI: 10.47626/1516-4446-2025-4230
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4414434080
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