H6 - Early Psychosis in Youth: Assessment, Treatment, and Hope-filled Recovery

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM MDT

Location: Bluebird 3E

Early psychosis often can present in adolescence, and can disrupt an individual’s developmental trajectory. With early identification and the right kinds of multimodal supports, many youth living with psychosis can go on to live rich, meaningful, connected lives. This session will provide an overview of early psychosis presentations in adolescents and transitional age youth, including assessment and evidence-based treatment modalities, including school accommodations, to support young people in their recovery journey. The presenters will also discuss typical adolescent development, shared decision making to empower young people towards healthy transition to adulthood, and the importance of hope-filled recovery-oriented attitudes.

Learning Objectives:

Cite developmentally, culturally humble assessment of psychosis evaluation in adolescents and transitional age youth, and describe the differential diagnosis and medical work up of early onset psychosis.
Describe evidence-based multimodal treatments of early psychosis
Cite two key adolescent developmental tasks and two ways to support a youth’s transition to their developmental trajectory after an episode of psychosis, including using shared decision making.
Cite the importance of hope-filled, recovery-oriented models of care.

Disclosure(s):

Zhanna Elberg, MD: No financial relationships to disclose

Apurva Bhatt, MD: No financial relationships to disclose

Breakout Presenter(s)

Zhanna Elberg, MD

Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Buffalo, New York

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Slides
Apurva Bhatt, MD

Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychiatrist, Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine
Palo Alto, California

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose