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Reducing duration of untreated psychosis: care pathways to early intervention in psychosis services

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 02:33 authored by Max Birchwood, Charlotte Connor, Helen Lester, Paul Patterson, Nick Freemantle, Max Marshall, David FowlerDavid Fowler, Shôn Lewis, Peter Jones, Tim Amos, Linda Everard, Swaran P Singh
Background Interventions to reduce treatment delay in first-episode psychosis have met with mixed results. Systematic reviews highlight the need for greater understanding of delays within the care pathway if successful strategies are to be developed. Aims To document the care-pathway components of duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and their link with delays in accessing specialised early intervention services (EIS). To model the likely impact on efforts to reduce DUP of targeted changes in the care pathway. Method Data for 343 individuals from the Birmingham, UK, lead site of the National EDEN cohort study were analysed. Results A third of the cohort had a DUP exceeding 6 months. The greatest contribution to DUP for the whole cohort came from delays within mental health services, followed by help-seeking delays. It was found that delay in reaching EIS was strongly correlated with longer DUP. Conclusions Community education and awareness campaigns to reduce DUP may be constrained by later delays within mental health services, especially access to EIS. Our methodology, based on analysis of care pathways, will have international application when devising strategies to reduce DUP.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

British Journal of Psychiatry

ISSN

0007-1250

Publisher

Royal College of Psychiatrists

Issue

1

Volume

203

Page range

58-64

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-08-15

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2016-08-15

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