mayanco@gmail.com

Background

Mayan completed his M.A in Psycho-biology and Clinical Psychology at Tel-Aviv University. He is a resident in Clinical Psychology, currently treating children, adolescents, and adults in- and outpatients in the Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital. He started his Ph.D. studies in 2020 at the Department of Community Mental Health of Haifa University under the advisory of David Roe & Dr. Amit Baumel.

Current Research 

‘Technology-Based Blended Care in the Treatment of First-Episode Psychosis: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy’

First-episode psychosis (FEP) is a term used to describe the first time an individual is experiencing a psychotic episode or psychotic symptoms. Over the past two decades, a new line of treatment programs has been developed, strongly emphasizing early and intense intervention following a FEP. An example for such program is NAVIGATE, a coordinated specialty care program operating across Israel, treating young people following a FEP.

Although coordinated specialty care program for FEP constitutes a significant development in the reform of mental health services, challenges are still present, and it is of major importance for future research to explore different strategies for optimizing treatment in FEP.

Blended Care is a treatment approach that attempts to interconnect components of face-to-face therapy and digital tools, aiming to achieve an improved and more cost-effective intervention that harvests benefits from both treatment formats.

Mayan’s Ph.D. research aims to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of transforming NAVIGATE into Blended Care by identifying challenges and weak spots, developing suitable digital tools and implementing these tools into NAVIGATE’s routine treatment.

Interests

Digital Psychological Interventions, Blended Care, e-Health, First-Episode Psychosis, Schizophrenia, Psychiatric Rehabilitation.