The Singapore Early Psychosis Intervention Programme (EPIP): A programme evaluation

The alarmingly long duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) in Singapore and probable severe consequences were the impetus for establishing the Early Psychosis Intervention Programme (EPIP) in 2001. In 2007, EPIP became a part of the National Mental Health Blueprint. Here, we report some of the programme's outcomes.MethodConsecutive patients accepted into EPIP from April 2007 to March 2011 were included. Programme inclusion criteria were: (1) age between 15 and 41 years, (2) first-episode psychotic disorder with no prior or minimal treatment, (3) no current history of substance abuse, and (4) no history of major medical or neurological illness. EPIP has incorporated an evaluation component to the clinical programme by administering regular structured assessments and generating operational statistics from our hospital's data systems.ResultsBetween April 2007 to March 2011, 815 patients had been accepted and 795 had baseline data. 50.8% (404/795) were males, with mean age of 27 years (±6.5 years). Mean DUP (SD) was 14.6 (±25.2) months and median was 6 months. At the end of two years, 71.1% (202/284) achieved symptomatic remission as defined by the Schizophrenia Working Group, 84.9% (241/284) scored 61 or more on Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) disability and 76.5% (274/358) had returned back to school or were gainfully employed.ConclusionBeing a national programme, EPIP had articulated process and outcome indicators to our stakeholders, and a periodic report card on these outcomes makes us accountable to our funders, our patients and their families.

► The Singapore Early Psychosis Intervention Programme (EPIP) was initiated in 2001 with the aim to reduce the duration of untreated psychosis and improve patient outcomes.
► EPIP is a part of National Mental Health Blueprint and hence has articulated a range of process and outcome indicators so as to that be accountable to stakeholders.
► At the end of 2 years of follow-up, 71.1% patients had achieved symptomatic remission and 76.5% patients had returned back to school or were gainfully employed.