Pathways to care in first episode psychosis: A pilot study on help-seeking precipitants and barriers to care

Abstract

Background: It is well documented that individuals experiencing first episode (FE) psychosis encounter significant delays in obtaining appropriate treatment, but why this occurs remains poorly understood.

Aims: To examine the duration of untreated psychosis in a FE population, to describe precipitants of help-seeking attempts, and to identify barriers to obtaining appropriate treatment.

Methods: Twenty individuals who recently received antipsychotic treatment for a FE of psychosis were interviewed about help-seeking behaviors.

Results: A total of 75 help-seeking attempts were reported. Fifty percent of the sample reported aggressive behaviors toward the self or others prior to obtaining treatment. Patients and their families experienced significant delays in linking with appropriate psychiatric care. The most common barrier to treatment was a failure to recognize the seriousness of behavioral changes as part of a mental illness.

Conclusions: Further investigations on treatment delay that highlight barriers to care and emphasize the patient's perspective are warranted.

Declaration of interest: None.

Keywords:

• First episode
• psychosis
• treatment
• help-seeking