"Treatments are effective 60%-80% of the time, success rates that meet or exceed success rates for cutting edge treatment for heart disease," the sheet states.
"In many cases, PIER does use medications," the Websites says. "We believe that some of the newer medications effectively improve thinking and combat early symptoms."
"Research suggests these medications may have a protective effect against changes in the brain that cause mental illness," it reports.
Under costs, it reads: "For now, services provided by PIER staff are supported by grants. However, if certain medications, medical tests, or neurological assessments are ordered, there will be a charge."
The PIER program was founded in 2000, by Dr William McFarlane, and after 10 years in operation, on May 28, 2010, the ChangeMyMind website listed only two "case studies and impact stories that illustrate the effectiveness of the Early Detection and Intervention for the Prevention of Psychosis Program."
Medicated for Life
Virtually every person entering the PIER program is prescribed antipsychotics, such as Risperdal or Invega, marketed by Johnson & Johnson, the parent company of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. These prescriptions are off-label because antipsychotics are not FDA approved to "prevent" mental illness in any age group.
An August 2008 article, by Charles Schmidt in Discover Magazine, highlighted the PIER program with a byline that stated: "A new mix of therapy and medication may stave off psychosis among teens at risk."
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