EIP Service Duration — MRCPsych Paper B MCQ

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ModerateSchizophrenia & PsychosisEIP Service DurationMRCPsych Paper B

A 25-year-old woman is receiving care from an Early Intervention in Psychosis service following a first episode of psychosis. As she approaches the end of the usual period of EIP care, she has not made a stable recovery. According to NICE CG178, beyond what duration should continued availability of the EIP service be considered?

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Correct answer: D — 3 years

The correct answer is D, 3 years. NICE CG178 recommends considering extension of Early Intervention in Psychosis service availability beyond 3 years when a person has not made a stable recovery from psychosis or schizophrenia. Thus, 3 years is the relevant guideline threshold, although care may continue beyond it according to clinical need. Six months and 1 year are too short for the usual first-episode psychosis EIP pathway. Five years is not the standard threshold specified by NICE, and indefinite specialist EIP care is not routinely recommended; ongoing needs may instead be met through extended EIP input or a planned transfer to another appropriate service.

Reference: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Psychosis and schizophrenia in adults: prevention and management (CG178), recommendation 1.3.1.4, 2014; reviewed 2025. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg178/chapter/recommendations