Vancouver/Richmond Early Psychosis Intervention

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Group for Vancouver/Richmond EPI clients

2005-12-29T10:49:00.000-08:00

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Group sessions to help you find new ways to deal with psychosis symptoms and feel better about yourself. Learn about:
· Stress and how it affects you
· Alternative ways of thinking about psychosis symptoms
· Drugs, alcohol and how you feel
· Coping and feeling competent

When:
· Every Wednesday 6:15 to 7:30 p.m.
· Start date January 18, 2006
· Continues weekly until June 28, 2006

Where:
· Early Psychosis Intervention Program
#207, 2250 – Commercial Drive, Vancouver
(604) 225-2211

Group Facilitators:

· Peter Barrett
EPI Family and Children’s Worker

· Rene Corbett
EPI Occupational Therapist

Ask your therapist about this group!

Brain Researchers to Develop New Class of Drugs to Repair Psychiatric Disorders

2004-12-01T11:30:00.000-08:00

'Smart'? drugs capable of targeting specific brain cells to control psychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia may be ready for early clinical trials within three years, with the launch of a $1.5 million project to take place at the Brain Research Centre (BRC), a partnership of the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI).

The new drugs would be the first significant change in decades to medications used to treat psychiatric disorders, says neuroscientist and team leader Yu Tian Wang, a UBC professor of Medicine and BRC member.

“We’re designing a whole new generation of medications that will work only on brain cells in areas that need to be repaired,�? says Wang. “This new type of drug will correct abnormal brain functions in a targeted way, so patients don’t experience the side effects found in existing medications that affect the whole brain.�?

One of only three investigations funded in NeuroScience Canada’s new Brain Repair Program, the project brings together five researchers from across Canada, including three investigators from the BRC at UBC Hospital.

Healthy brain functioning relies on a balance between the chemical messengers that stimulate brain cell activity (excitatory neurotransmitters) and those that diminish activity (inhibitory neurotransmitters.)

When balance is disrupted, the flow of information among brain cells in certain areas becomes confused. The result is impairments in perception, thought and behaviour seen in patients with brain disorders ranging from autism to major psychoses including schizophrenia and depression.

Using sophisticated equipment to view, study and manipulate brain messaging at the cellular level, the team will test their design of a type of drug that can fine-tune communication between brain cells and bring excitatory and inhibitory activity into a healthy balance.

Existing anti-psychotic drugs adjust communication on cell surfaces throughout the brain. Balance is restored in affected areas, however, the drugs may cause imbalance in normal, unaffected areas, leading to negative side effects. Side effects can range from sluggishness, insomnia and anxiety to severe psychoses, and limit prolonged use of these medications.

The new generation of “smart�? drugs will target only the cells where communication balance is impaired, leaving healthy areas of the brain unaffected.

Wang estimates the new type of drug could be available to patients within five to 10 years.

Brain and nervous system disorders affect one in five Canadians and are among the leading causes of death in this country and are the leading cause of disability. Health Canada has estimated the economic burden of these disorders at $22.7 billion and costs are expected to rise significantly as the population ages.

Other team members are: (in alphabetical order) Assistant Prof. Alaa El-Husseini, UBC Dept. of Psychiatry and BRC; Associate Prof. Stephen Ferguson, University of Western Ontario; Assistant Prof. Ridha Joober, McGill University; Professor Anthony Phillips, UBC Dept. of Psychiatry and BRC.

Note to editors: Moving and still colour images of brain cell-to-brain cell communication are available.

The Brain Research Centre, located at UBC Hospital, comprises more than 160 investigators with multidisciplinary expertise in neuroscience research ranging from the test tube, to the bedside, to industrial spin-offs.

NeuroScience Canada’s Brain Repair Program is an $8-million program that has received major support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to support Canada’s world-class neuroscience researchers. Further information about the NeuroScience Canada awards may be found at www.neurosciencecanada.ca.

NeuroScience Canada was founded in1988 and uses private, corporate and government funding to support research on mechanisms that protect and repair the brain and nervous system.

CIHR is the Government of Canada’s agency for health research.

VCHRI is a joint venture between UBC and Vancouver Coastal Health that promotes development of new researchers and research activity.

Vancouver Courier Article

2004-03-31T11:32:00.000-08:00

Dr. Dave Irwin interviewed on 94.5 the Beat Radio

2003-01-20T17:20:00.000-08:00

Dr. Dave Irwin interviewed on 94.5 the Beat Radio

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Dr. Dave Irwin interviewed by Fanny Kiefer

2003-01-10T17:26:00.000-08:00

Dr. Dave Irwin interviewed by Fanny Kiefer

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(Windows Media Video, 11.9 MB)

Dr. Dave Irwin interviewed on CKNW 980

2003-01-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

Dr. Dave Irwin interviewed on CKNW 980

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(mp3 audio file, 19.6 MB)

Raising psychosis awareness

2002-10-29T17:29:00.000-08:00

by Zerah Lurie / The Ubssey

A new series of posters are making their appearance on campus, featuring fictitious sufferers of psychoses. These posters are part of an effort by the Early Psychosis Initiative (EPI) of British Columbia to raise awareness about psychosis around UBC.

Psychosis means loss of contact with reality and is related to a number of mental illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Psychosis generally first appears between the ages of 13 to 30, but the average age of onset is 17 to 24 the age group containing the majority of university students. The EPI wants people to know that psychosis can affect anyone; three out of every 100 people experience psychosis in their lifetime.

According to Dr David Irwin, medical director of the EPI, the goal of the initiative is to create awareness among both doctors and the general public about psychosis. Typically, psychosis sufferers aren't treated until years after symptoms first appear. EPI's goal is to diagnose and treat psychosis suffers as early as possible. The earlier a patient is treated, the better their chances of recovery.

"Most people aren't aware of what to look out for in terms of early psychosis," says Irwin. "Early on, the signs like aggressive behaviour are fairly rare. Those kinds of things typically aren't cropping up until the person has been unwell for some time."

"The things that we're really looking out for in terms of psychosis showing itself [early on] are more subtle things," said Irwin, "like a person starting to have trouble with school or work, with friendships, people having trouble with sleep or appetite...particularly if [these signs are] lasting for days or weeks at a time." Irwin cautions that psychosis symptoms can actually be quite subtle.

Despite the provincial health cuts, the EPI has survived and hopes to flourish because of its focus on prevention and cutting costs.

"One of the biggest health care costs is inpatient treatment," said Irwin. "It's enormously expensive compared to any other kind of treatment and it's well-proven I would say that this kind of early intervention approach dramatically reduces the need for hospitalisation."

The awareness campaign at UBC hopes to connect with an audience that can be difficult to reach. Irwin explained that the target group is generally independent, and not always being looked after by their parents or a partner.

The EPI is also focusing on an awareness campaign at UBC because of the role stress plays in psychosis. Stress does not cause these conditions but it can mask their existence, said Irwin.

"And let's face it, going to college or university is a stressful period for almost everybody," Irwin added.

"We're trying to raise awareness in the community as to what [psychosis] is, that it's very treatable, that it doesn't have to get really bad in order to get treatment and that people will do much better if they can get help earlier," said Miriam Cohen, a registered nurse who helps coordinate the EPI and who works on the EPI's help line.

Christina Yee, a third-year political science student who is putting up posters on campus for the campaign, feels that psychosis is a serious issue for people in university.

"It is something that can come out of nowhere and it's just good to be aware that there is this early intervention program out there," she added.

The EPI program has set up a website, www.hopevancouver.com, with answers and information about psychosis. Those with questions regarding psychosis, or who know someone who needs help or referral to these programs, can call the EPI help line at (604) 822-9732.

Your Health, With Dr. Rhonda Low BC-CTV

2002-06-04T17:30:00.000-07:00

Your Health, With Dr. Rhonda Low BC-CTV

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EPI in the Vancouver Courier

2002-05-08T17:32:00.000-07:00

by Naoibh O'Connor