Clinical
Psychotic Disorders Program

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 a treatment alliance and emphasize treatment compliance, and ultimately to reduce risk for 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 of different psychosocial interventions throughout the course of 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.

Specialty Clinics
Services for some patients are provided in specialty clinics. These clinics were formed to develop evidence-based interventions for specific problems, to conduct clinical research, and to teach the next generation of clinicians how to treat psychotic disorders. Specialty clinics include the:

• First Episode Psychosis Program
  
• Medication Management Clinics
  
• Community Reintegration Program

Outpatient Services

• Evidence-based Psychosocial Interventions
  
• Individual Psychotherapy
  
• Family Therapy
  
• Cognitive Rehabilitation
  
• Psychoeducational Programs
  
• Medication Management Clinics
  
• Case Management
  
• Consultation Services
  
• Psychological and Neuropsychological Testing

Contact Information

The Neuropsychiatric Institute of the University of Illinois Hospital
912 S. Wood St., 7th Floor M/C 913
Chicago, IL 60612
Telephone: 312-996-2200 or 312-996-7723
Directions: Click here for a map of our location