CASC: Family psychoeducation after first-episode psychosis

Candidate instructions

You are the psychiatry registrar in early-psychosis follow-up. Sam, 21, had a first episode of schizophrenia, now improving on risperidone 3 mg orally at night. You will meet Jordan, Sam's parent. Sam has consented to a family meeting about illness education and support, and is waiting outside for the second half if invited. Your tasks in 10 minutes:^[17]

1. Engage Jordan with a non-blaming, partnership stance.
2. Give plain-language psychoeducation: stress-vulnerability model, role of medication, early warning signs.
3. Normalise carer stress; avoid implying Jordan caused the illness.
4. Outline multi-session family psychoeducation (what it involves and why).
5. Address confidentiality limits and Sam's privacy.
6. Agree one concrete next step (e.g. first FPE session date; early warning signs card together).