“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of medicine,” says Psychology Associate Professor Jason Schiffman when describing treatment of psychosis.

Schiffman is a staff member at the new “Center for Excellence on Early Intervention for Serious Mental Illness.” The center’s mission is to identify young people with psychosis or at risk for the specific symptom that makes violence more likely. The program aims to get them into immediate treatment and to provide support.

In an interview Monday on WYPR’s Maryland Morning, Schiffman outlined how early treatment of people with psychosis or showing signs of developing it is critical in getting those individuals on a path towards leading a life they want to live.

“The field has really moved towards understanding that the earlier we intervene, the better the life trajectory of individuals on a route with these symptoms or on a journey having these experiences,” Schiffman said.

He also described how the new center will focus on collaborative work to provide the best possible treatment and support.

You can listen to the full interview here.