Congratulations, Ruben Valle, MD, PhD 🎉

Ruben successfully defended his PhD thesis, titled “Implementing Early Intervention for Psychosis in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).” 

The thesis makes an important contribution to global mental health research by examining how early intervention for psychosis can be strengthened and implemented in resource-constrained settings.

The thesis includes four complementary studies. The first uses bibliometric analysis to examine research capacity and scientific collaboration in early psychosis research across LMICs. The second is a systematic review (N = 125 studies) assessing the availability and effectiveness of multicomponent interventions for first-episode psychosis and clinical high risk for psychosis in LMICs. The third is a qualitative case study focused on implementation processes and contextual factors shaping early intervention initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean. The fourth analyzes national-level administrative data to assess changes in service use for psychosis in Peru between 2018 and 2024 following mental health reform.

Together, these studies provide an integrated understanding of the current landscape of early intervention for psychosis in LMICs and offer practical, context-sensitive insights to inform future implementation, service development, and mental health policy. We would also like to thank the members of Ruben’s PhD committee.