title: Predictors of help-seeking duration in adult-onset psychosis in Hong Kong.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Delay in receiving treatment in psychosis may lead to adverse consequences. We examined the predictors for help-seeking duration in adult-onset psychosis Chinese patients in Hong Kong. We hypothesized that factors which are more related to the illness manifestation would be predictive of waiting time before any help-seeking initiation, and factors which are more related to one's knowledge about mental health services would be predictive of help-seeking duration.
  
  
  METHODS
  First-episode patients with psychosis were recruited from the Jockey Club Early Psychosis project. They were asked to report retrospectively all help-seeking behaviors involved since their first occurrence of psychotic symptoms until receipt of effective psychiatric treatment. Baseline characteristics, pre-morbid functioning and traits, and mode of illness onset were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Help-seeking pattern was analyzed in 360 patients who had subsequently reached the psychiatric services. They had an average of 2.5 help-seeking contacts. Nearly half of the first help-seeking process was initiated by family members. Only 1 % approached priests or traditional healers as the first step in help-seeking. Whereas a gradual mode of onset was significantly associated with longer waiting time to first help-seeking initiation, more premorbid schizoid and schizotypal traits and a migrant status were related to longer help-seeking duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current findings suggested that family members were the key decision makers in initiating help-seeking. Longer help-seeking duration in migrants has significant implications to both local and global mental health policy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, 102, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China, christy@lmhui.com.
authors.forename: Christy L M
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Jennifer Y M
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Gloria H Y
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Sherry K W
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Edwin H M
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eric Y H
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult