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Background: Specialised early intervention (SEI) programs have offered individuals with psychotic disorders and their families new hope for improving illness trajectories and outcomes. The Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) was one of the first SEI programs developed in the world, providing services for young people experiencing their first episode of psychosis., Methods: We conducted a narrative synthesis of controlled and uncontrolled studies that have been conducted at EPPIC., Discussion: The history of the EPPIC model is first described. This is followed by a discussion of clinical research emerging from EPPIC, including psychopharmacological, psychotherapeutic trials and outcome studies. Neurobiological studies are also described. Issues pertaining to the conduct of clinical research and future research directions are then described. Finally, the impact of the EPPIC model on the Australian environment is discussed.

Mental health difficulties are easily the key health issue faced by adolescents and young adults in the developed world today. Epidemiological studies have shown that the incidence and prevalence of the mental disorders, as well as their contribution to the overall burden of disease, is highest in those in the 15 to 24 year age group, and yet young people in this age range are the least likely to access services for mental health problems. This issue is particularly problematic given that untreated, or poorly treated, mental disorders are associated with ongoing disability, including impaired social functioning, poor educational achievement, unemployment, substance abuse, and violence that all too often leads to a cycle of dysfunction and disadvantage that is difficult to break. Young people tend to be reluctant to discuss emotional concerns with a general practitioner if indeed they have a regular doctor, and the traditional mental health services, which cater to the needs of children or older adults, are highly alienating to young people. A new approach to mental health services for young people is clearly needed-one that considers young people's unique developmental issues, their help-seeking needs and behaviors, and the complex and evolving patterns of symptoms and morbidity common in this age group. This article describes Australian innovation in the provision of youth mental health services, which has been informed by an evidence-based approach and dedicated advocacy, that seeks to contribute to this much needed reform process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]