Abstract
Aim
Early psychosocial treatment for psychosis‐spectrum symptoms has been linked to positive outcomes, whereas delayed treatment is associated with poorer prognosis. Thus, there is a critical need to bolster psychotherapy engagement efforts, particularly among high‐risk groups and during high‐risk periods, in order to maximize recovery. This study explores the relation between psychosis‐spectrum symptoms and psychotherapy readiness among psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents, a foundational step for developing more effective psychotherapy engagement approaches for this population.
Methods
Adolescents (n = 704; 12‐18 years) who were admitted to a psychiatric inpatient unit completed the Readiness for Psychotherapy Index (RPI), a psychosis‐spectrum questionnaire (PRIME Screen), and a brief diagnostic interview at intake. Correlational patterns and regression analyses were used to explore associations between variables.
Results
The PRIME Screen was negatively associated with the RPI Openness subscale and positively associated with the Distress subscale, beyond the effects of demographics (ie, age, sex, race) and psychiatric diagnoses.
Conclusions
Results indicate that the RPI probes multiple facets of psychotherapy readiness that have unique associations with psychosis‐spectrum experiences. Adolescents with higher PRIME scores endorsed greater mental health‐related distress and lower levels of openness to psychotherapy. These psychotherapy readiness factors warrant further exploration, as they may be significant barriers or facilitators to engaging adolescents with psychosis‐spectrum symptoms in much needed early treatment services.