Kenneth J. Dudek, a true leader and tireless advocate for people with serious mental illness, is retiring at the end of next week after serving 27 years as president of Fountain House. The Treatment Advocacy Center sincerely appreciates and applauds Kenn’s lifetime of service and his dedication to people with serious mental illness.

Steve Pryce, who resides in Northern Ohio, shares his experience with schizophrenia, arguing that with appropriate psychiatric care and the support of loved ones, a brighter tomorrow is possible.

Methods to identify rates of first-episode psychosis in the general population are needed in order to appropriately serve high-risk individuals with an early treatment program. Without such methods, comprehensive systems that conduct outreach, assessment and treatment for individuals with first-episode psychosis, such as coordinated specialty care, cannot adequately be met. These specialty treatment programs are vital to preventing further deterioration and disability later in life for individuals showing initial symptoms of psychotic disorders by providing essential identification and treatment early on in the course of their illness.

Expansion of primary care services provided by community health centers may result in a decrease in psychiatric emergency department visits, according to research released in June.

John Snook is executive director of Treatment Advocacy Center in Arlington, Virginia. He wrote this column for The Dallas Morning News.

This edition of Research Weekly highlights a recent case study on the treatment of a man with severe mental illness. It showcases the work of Treatment Advocacy Center founder Dr. E. Fuller Torrey and board member Dr. Robert Yolken, which examines the role of infections in schizophrenia and how treating them can significantly impact outcomes for individuals suffering from diseases of the brain.  

Dr. Torrey is founder of the Treatment Advocacy Center and author of "American Psychosis."

In Memoriam: Board Member, H. Richard Lamb

Dr. H. Richard Lamb, a cherished member of the Treatment Advocacy Center board of directors and unparalleled psychiatrist, passed away in Southern California following an illness.

Research Roundup is a monthly public service of the Office of Research and Public Affairs. Each edition describes a striking new data point about severe mental illness and summarizes recently published research reports or developments.

Susan Partovi lives in Los Angeles, and serves as the Medical Director of Homeless Health Care Los Angeles.