CONTACT:
Dr. Steven Ronik (954) 486-400
Henderson
Mental Health Center Chosen as National Study
Site
January
14, 2010 - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Henderson
Mental Health Center has been selected as one
of thirty leading behavioral healthcare organizations
from across the nation, to participate in a
new National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
research study. Henderson is the only site selected
from Florida.
The
study is designed to evaluate the benefits of
a comprehensive pharmacological and psychosocial
treatment package (referred to as the RAISE
Enhanced Treatment Program) for individuals
with first episode psychosis, compared to a
typical community mental health treatment (community
care).
The
goals of the study are to improve the long-term
trajectory of schizophrenia and reduce its disability
over the lifetime by providing rapid, comprehensive,
effective treatment at the first episode of
psychosis. Also the study seeks to develop and
evaluate an intervention for first episode psychosis
that can be delivered in a wide range of clinical
settings and can be paid for by existing funding
mechanisms.
The
program is led by Dr. John Kane at the Zucker
Hillside Hospital in New York with colleagues
from Dartmouth Medical School, University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Yale Medical
School, University of Calgary, UCLA, and SUNY
Downstate Medical Center. Some of the key benefits
for us and the people we serve will be further
training in new evidence-based practices including
Individualized Resiliency Training (IRT), pharmacological
management guided by an algorithm, family psycho-education,
and evidence-based supported employment.
This
is the second NIMH study that HMHC has been
selected for as of late. Henderson Mental Health
Center was formerly selected as one of 57 sites
nationally to participate in the “CATIE
Trials.” Finally, HMHC is currently involved
in the Mental Health Treatment Study funded
by the Social Security Administration and in
partnership with Dr. Bob Drake of Dartmouth
College and 20 sites across the United States.
Henderson
Mental Health Center is the oldest and largest,
not-for-profit behavioral healthcare system
in Broward County, Florida. Henderson’s
programs are accredited by CARF, the Commission
on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. www.hendersonmhc.org
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updated
01/14/2010