2026 seminar schedule
Wednesday 27 May 4pm-5pm
Speaker: Prof Lorenzo Pelizza, Associate Professor in Psychiatry at the University of Bologna (Italy).
“Early intervention in psychosis in Northern Italy: a diffuse (“liquid”) model between research and clinical practice”
From January 2013, all Departments of Mental Health in Emilia-Romagna region (Northern Italy) developed specific protocols of care implemented as diffused ("liquid") services for early intervention in psychosis. Specifically, these are protocols to provide dedicated, expertise-driven, and evidence-based interventions to adolescents and young adults with first episode psychosis (FEP) or in the prodromal phase of psychosis (Clinical High Risk [CHR]). Main reasons leading to the decision of implementing these protocols have been (1) to improve the quality of processes and outcomes of intervention, establishing a specialized EIP protocols aimed to the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of people with FEP or at CHR for psychosis, in accordance with well-defined guidelines on the topic; (2) to reduce the variability of interventions, standardizing them in all child/adolescent and adult Mental Health Services of the regional Parma Departments of Mental Health; (3) to allow an accurate evaluation of the adherence of treatments provided in the Pr-EP protocol to the evidence-based recommendations; and (4) to structure tailored and patient-centred intervention projects (i.e., differentiated on the basis of the analysis of people's health needs), supporting the implementation of individual, planned care pathway as the most suitable model for the clinical-organizational management of early psychosis.
Within this clinical context, we put crucial attention on integrating clinical practice and research, giving the same importance to results reported by clinical trials and those emerged from the "real world". As an example, we discussed the findings of our research on the use of antipsychotics in individuals at CHR for psychosis, highlighting the great discrepancy between international guidelines' suggestions and prescription's' behaviours of clinicians in our services
Wednesday 24 June 4pm-5pm
Speaker: Maria Ferrara MD PhD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Ferrara, Italy.
“Sex differences in psychosis: focus on women’s care needs”
This invited talk will address sex differences in psychosis with a focus on their clinical relevance for assessment, treatment, and service delivery in women. Drawing on longitudinal registry data, early intervention cohorts, and outpatient service evaluations, it will describe sex-specific patterns in age at onset, symptom profiles, diagnostic trajectories, and treatment response. Evidence from large-scale studies highlights differences in pharmacological management, including clozapine prescribing, as well as variations in outcomes following first-episode psychosis.
Particular attention will be given to clinical factors shaping women’s care needs, including later onset, comorbid affective symptoms, trauma exposure, and reproductive health considerations. Findings from gender-sensitive service research will be used to identify gaps in current models of care, including barriers to access, engagement, and continuity of treatment.
The session will translate this evidence into practical recommendations for clinicians, emphasizing the need for sex-informed assessment, individualized pharmacological strategies, and integration of reproductive and psychosocial care within early intervention and general psychiatric services. The goal is to support more precise, equitable, and effective care for women with psychosis.
*July - August Summer Break*
Wednesday 30 September 4pm-5pm
Speaker: Dr. Joanne Hodgekins, Clinical Associate Professor, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia
“Improving Social Recovery in Psychosis (ISRIP): a definitive randomised controlled trial and process evaluation of Social Recovery Therapy compared to treatment as usual for people with psychosis and severe social disability”
Wednesday 28 October 4pm-5pm
Speaker: Shôn Lewis MD FMedSci, Professor of Adult Psychiatry, University of Manchester
“CareLoop digital symptom monitoring system for people with psychosis”
Wednesday 25 November 4pm-5pm
Speaker: Carmen Simonsen, Associate professor, University of Oslo
"Helping people with Psychosis handle Stigma and Disclosure: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of the HOP Group program in Norway"
2027 seminar schedule
Wednesday 27 January 4pm-5pm
Speaker: Nik Nikolić, Principal Pharmacist and Advanced Clinical Practitioner and NIHR Doctoral Clinical Academic Fellow
“Role of ADHD in Autistic people with psychosis”