Why it matters: Supports cardiometabolic health, mood, and cognitive functioning in early psychosis.

Clinical relevance: Physical inactivity is common in FEP due to symptoms, medication effects, and disrupted routines.

📄 View Exercise Patient Handout

Clinical tips:

• Aim for ≥150 min/week moderate activity (start lower if needed)
• Focus on small, achievable goals (e.g., 10-minute walks)
• Address negative symptoms and motivation explicitly

Suggested clinical script:
“What’s one small type of movement that feels realistic this week?”

Why it matters: Supports brain health, energy regulation, and metabolic health, particularly in the context of antipsychotic treatment.

Clinical relevance: Individuals in FEP are at increased risk for weight gain and metabolic changes due to medication effects, reduced activity, and disrupted routines.

📄 View Nutrition Basics Patient Handout

Clinical tips:

• Emphasize consistency over restriction (regular meals/snacks)
• Pair carbohydrates with protein or fiber to stabilize energy
• Focus on small changes (e.g., adding one fruit/vegetable per day)

Suggested clinical script:
“If you could change one thing about your food choices this week, what would it be?”

Why it matters: Sleep is essential for cognitive recovery, mood regulation, and relapse prevention in psychosis.

Clinical relevance: Sleep disturbance is common in early psychosis and can both trigger and worsen symptoms.

📄 View Sleep Patient Handout

Clinical tips:

• Prioritize consistent wake time over bedtime initially
• Reduce evening stimulation (light, screens, stress)
• Encourage gradual routine-building rather than rapid change

Suggested clinical script:
“How might a small change in your sleep routine help you feel more rested and energized the next day?”

Why it matters: Stress is a key contributor to symptom exacerbation and relapse risk in psychotic disorders.

Clinical relevance: Individuals with FEP often experience heightened stress sensitivity and reduced coping capacity during recovery.

📄 View Stress Management Patient Handout

Clinical tips:

• Normalize stress as a biological and psychological trigger
• Teach brief skills (breathing, grounding, pause techniques)
• Focus on routine stabilization as a form of stress reduction

Suggested clinical script:
“When stress builds, what’s something small that has helped you feel even slightly more grounded?”

Why it matters: Excessive or poorly timed screen use can impact sleep quality, attention, mood regulation, and social engagement in early psychosis.

Clinical relevance: Individuals with FEP may use screens for distraction, stimulation, or isolation, which can unintentionally reinforce sleep disruption and withdrawal from daily structure.

📄 View Screen Time Patient Handout

Clinical tips:

• Focus on timing rather than elimination (especially evenings)
• Explore function of use (coping, boredom, anxiety, social connection)
• Encourage small boundary changes (e.g., screen-free first/last 30 minutes of day)

Suggested clinical script:
“How does screen use fit into your day right now, and is there any part of it that feels like it’s working against your sleep or recovery?”

Why it matters: Nicotine use is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and can complicate cognitive and psychiatric outcomes in FEP.

Clinical relevance: Smoking and vaping rates are elevated in early psychosis populations and often begin or escalate around illness onset.

📄 View Nicotine Reduction Patient Handout

Clinical tips:

• Assess readiness rather than pushing immediate cessation
• Normalize ambivalence about quitting
• Offer incremental reduction strategies (delay, reduce, substitute)

Suggested clinical script:
“Would it be okay if we talked about what you like and don’t like about nicotine right now?”

Why it matters: Alcohol can worsen cognition, mood instability, and increase risk of relapse in psychosis.

Clinical relevance: Alcohol use may increase during early illness as a coping strategy and can interact negatively with medications.

📄 View Alcohol Reduction Patient Handout

Clinical tips:

• Use a non-judgmental, harm-reduction approach
• Explore function of use (stress, sleep, social anxiety)
• Focus on patterns rather than labels (e.g., “when/why” use occurs)

Suggested clinical script:
“What role does alcohol play for you right now, and are there times you’d like that to look different?”