Help-seeking pathways in early psychosis.
BACKGROUND
Understanding the help-seeking pathways of patients with a putative risk of developing psychosis helps improving development of specialised care services. This study aimed at obtaining information about: type of health professionals contacted by patients at putative risk for psychosis on their help-seeking pathways; number of contacts; type of symptoms leading to contacts with health professionals; interval between initial contact and referral to a specialised outpatient service.


METHODS
The help-seeking pathways were assessed as part of a prospective study in 104 patients with suspected at-risk states for psychosis.


RESULTS
The mean number of contacts prior to referral was 2.38. Patients with psychotic symptoms more often contacted mental health professionals, whereas patients with insidious and more unspecific features more frequently contacted general practitioners (GPs).


CONCLUSIONS
GPs have been found to under-identify the insidious features of emerging psychosis (Simon et al. (2005) Br J Psychiatry 187:274-281). The fact that they were most often contacted by patients with exactly these features calls for focussed and specialised help for primary care physicians. Thus, delays along the help-seeking pathways may be shortened. This may be of particular relevance for patients with the deficit syndrome of schizophrenia.
Platz
Christoph
C
Psychiatric Outpatient Services, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Umbricht
Daniel S
DS
Cattapan-Ludewig
Katja
K
Dvorsky
Diane
D
Arbach
Dima
D
Brenner
Hans-Dieter
HD
Simon
Andor E
AE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010045:Outpatients; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013997:Time Factors