Determinants of help-seeking and system related components of delay in the treatment of first-episode psychosis.
BACKGROUND
Knowledge about factors that influence different components of duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is important for designing interventions to reduce DUP.


METHODS
We tested associations between help-seeking and referral components of DUP (DUP-H and DUP-R, respectively) and the following predictor variables: age, gender, ethnicity, living arrangement, pre-morbid adjustment, age at onset of psychosis, diagnosis, level of symptoms, type of first and total number of mental health contacts prior to and after the onset of psychosis in a sample of 98 first-episode psychosis patients (FEP).


RESULTS
Longer DUP-HS was significantly associated with earlier age at onset, diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum psychosis and poor pre-morbid adjustment during adolescence. Longer DUP-R was associated with earlier age at onset and first help-seeking contact having been made with a non-medical professional.


CONCLUSIONS
Relatively non-malleable patient characteristics are likely to influence delay in help-seeking while more malleable systemic characteristics influence delay associated with referral for specialized treatment.
Bechard-Evans
Laura
L
McGill University, PEPP Montreal, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, 6875 LaSalle Boulevard, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4H 1R3. laura.bechard-evans@douglas.mcgill.ca
Schmitz
Norbert
N
Abadi
Sherezad
S
Joober
Ridha
R
King
Suzanne
S
Malla
Ashok
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013997:Time Factors