Integrated Pathways of Care for Psychosis: An Overview

In this chapter the authors distinguish literature that diligently distinguishes between the psychotic experiences - normal versus pathological. They provide compelling information from many different sources that make the readers rethink and possibly challenge the long held (mis-)conception that psychotic symptoms as are always pathological and/or dangerous. Adapting from the concepts of evidenced-based integrated pathways that have been used successfully in stroke and cardiovascular illnesses, these authors make a case for integrated path-ways of care for psychosis which provides a standardized framework for good clinical practice that include but are not limited to reducing the wide variations and heterogeneity in care, providing timely access to interventions, and paving the way for achieving improved outcomes for individuals suffering from psychosis.