Attenuated Psychosis Syndromes Among Japanese Youth and Young Adults: Early Identification and Intervention

Abstract

Psychiatric services in Japan have been predominantly hospital-based for several decades. The perception that mentally ill patients can be discharged from or treated outside a hospital and live independently in the community is far from widespread. The stigma of mental illness is deepened by images of hospitalization, prompting people suffering from mild or early symptoms of mental disorders to avoid early intervention and remain in the community. Nevertheless, the Japanese mental healthcare system is slowly changing. Given Japan's rapidly aging population and low birth rate, a clear orientation toward prevention and preemptive approaches is surely necessary. Care in the community for severe mental illness and the early stages of severe mental illnesses, such as Attenuated Psychosis Syndromes (APS), should be further enhanced. When considering how to improve the treatment of psychotic disorders at an early stage, we need to be attentive to the needs of young populations. Youths are often particularly vulnerable to mental distress but often are excluded from mental health systems. Their particular needs should be considered during policy planning and service design. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)