Kristen Gardner, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Behavioral Health
Kaiser Permanente Colorado
CPNP Programming Committee Member
We are thrilled to have returning speaker and principal investigator of the NIMH-funded Recovery After Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE), Dr. Lisa Dixon, MD, MPH, lead us through the emerging literature on first-episode psychosis (FEP) early detection, engagement, treatment, and unmet needs on Monday, Apr 8, from 9:30am – 10:30am.
Schizophrenia is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Emerging research focused on understanding and managing FEP demonstrates that early detection, intervention, and engagement is associated with improved quality of life, lower levels of symptoms, and longer continuation in treatment. Treatment guidelines are outdated and inadequately address management of first-episode psychosis (i.e. duration of therapy, use of newer oral antipsychotics and long-acting injectable antipsychotics) and clinician surveys have found that there is still a perpetuation of inaccurate information regarding treatment of this population. A recent NIMH study, RAISE, has been completed and will guide future care pathways and treatment decisions in this population. This program will ensure psychiatric pharmacists understand the current state of literature for FEP population in terms of early detection, engagement, treatment, and unmet needs.
Lisa Dixon, M.D., M.P.H., directs the Center for Practice Innovations (CPI) at the New York State Psychiatric Institute where she is also a Professor of Psychiatry at the Columbia University Medical Center. As CPI director, she oversees key activities for the Office of Mental Health in implementing evidenced based practices for persons diagnosed with serious mental illness. She is currently the Principal Investigator of the NIMH-funded Recovery After Initial Schizophrenia Episode Implementation and Evaluation Study (RAISE-IES) that has developed and tested an innovative model, the Connection Program, designed to improve outcomes and reduce disability for the population of individuals experiencing their first episode of psychosis (FEP). Dr. Dixon is also leading the New York statewide FEP initiative, OnTrackNY, which aims to implement the Connection Program throughout the New York State. Dr. Dixon is an established health services researcher with continuous funding from NIMH, VA and foundations since 1992. Her grants have focused on improving the quality of care for individuals with serious mental disorders with a particular emphasis on services that include families, reducing the negative impact of co-occurring addictions and medical problems, and improving treatment engagement and adherence. Dr. Dixon’s work has joined individuals engaged in self-help, outpatient psychiatric care, as well as clinicians and policy makers in collaborative research endeavors. She has published more than 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals and received the 2009 American Psychiatric Association Health Services Senior Scholar Award as well as the Wayne Fenton Award for Exceptional Clinical Care.