Early intervention for first episodes of schizophrenia: a preliminary exploration.

This report describes an uncontrolled study of intensive early intervention with adults who displayed signs and symptoms suggestive of schizophrenic disorders. Case detection rates that were lower than expected offer tentative support for the hypothesis that the initial florid episodes of schizophrenia may be modified when they are detected early and when effective therapeutic strategies are applied with minimal delays. The difficulty of drawing any substantive conclusions from this preliminary study is stressed, but further controlled replications of the approach may be warranted.