Ary Gadelha1, Rodrigo Bressan1, Graccielle Cunha1, André Zugman1; 1PRISMA Clinic - Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)
Almost ten years ago, prevention in mental health was rarely debated in Brazil. A group of volunteers and young researchers of Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) created a research program to deliver an intervention at public schools aimed at foster identification of subjects at-risk for psychosis. This research demanded to structure a service to provide care to subjects at-risk identified at schools. In 10 years, the PRISMA clinic screened around 300 subjects, identified 40 subjects at-risk for psychosis or bipolar disorder, with a conversion rate of 10% over two years. Besides research, PRISMA became part of the psychiatry residency program at UNIFESP, allowing new psychiatrists the opportunity to get In contact with the prevention paradigm. Recently, PRISMA became part of the National Centre for Prevention In Mental Health to test pilot interventions for at-risk subjects and allow later implementation in other parts of Brazil.
