WASHINGTON — Teens who feel their minds are playing tricks on them may be showing an early sign of schizophrenia, and now a new program is aiming to treat schizophrenia before it is diagnosed.

A new approach to treating the teens with early signs of schizophrenia starts before they’ve even had a psychotic episode or a diagnosis, according to The Washington Post.

The program involves a two-year course of family therapy, job and school assistance. In some cases, antipsychotic medication is prescribed.

The Post reports the treatment was pioneered in Portland, Maine, and following its adoption, there was a 34 percent decrease in the rate of hospitalizations for first psychotic episodes, according to a March study.

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