PURPOSE: The observed association between treatment delay and poor outcomes in first-episode psychosis has led to an interest in the topography of symptom development preceding the onset of psychosis and associated help-seeking behaviors. We estimated the extent to which socio-demographic, clinical, and health service indicators are associated with patterns of service use for mental health reasons preceding a first diagnosis of psychosis. METHODS: Population-based administrative data from physician billings, hospitalizations, and public health clinics were used to identify incident cases of schizophrenia-spectrum psychosis among individuals aged 14-25 years in Montréal. Mental health contacts in the 4 years preceding the index diagnosis were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-two percent of cases had no contact with services for a mental health reason preceding the index diagnosis, and nearly 50% received the index diagnosis of psychosis in the emergency department. Individuals in contact with primary care had a reduced likelihood of contact with the emergency department and inpatient services (OR = 0.15, 0.06-0.39) and of receiving the index diagnosis in the emergency department (OR = 0.36, 0.24-0.54), but also had a longer time to contact with a psychiatrist (HR = 0.32, 0.23-0.45). CONCLUSIONS: Improving access to primary care may reduce the burden on emergency departments and inpatient units; however, primary care providers may need additional training in the symptoms of early psychosis and referral protocols. Given the limitations associated with using clinical samples from specialized services, population-based administrative data are an important source of information for understanding patterns of health services use preceding a first diagnosis of psychosis.
PURPOSE: The observed association between treatment delay and poor outcomes in first-episode psychosis has led to an interest in the topography of symptom development preceding the onset of psychosis and associated help-seeking behaviors. We estimated the extent to which socio-demographic, clinical, and health service indicators are associated with patterns of service use for mental health reasons preceding a first diagnosis of psychosis. METHODS: Population-based administrative data from physician billings, hospitalizations, and public health clinics were used to identify incident cases of schizophrenia-spectrum psychosis among individuals aged 14-25 years in Montréal. Mental health contacts in the 4 years preceding the index diagnosis were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-two percent of cases had no contact with services for a mental health reason preceding the index diagnosis, and nearly 50% received the index diagnosis of psychosis in the emergency department. Individuals in contact with primary care had a reduced likelihood of contact with the emergency department and inpatient services (OR = 0.15, 0.06-0.39) and of receiving the index diagnosis in the emergency department (OR = 0.36, 0.24-0.54), but also had a longer time to contact with a psychiatrist (HR = 0.32, 0.23-0.45). CONCLUSIONS: Improving access to primary care may reduce the burden on emergency departments and inpatient units; however, primary care providers may need additional training in the symptoms of early psychosis and referral protocols. Given the limitations associated with using clinical samples from specialized services, population-based administrative data are an important source of information for understanding patterns of health services use preceding a first diagnosis of psychosis.
Authors: Gregory E Simon; Christine Stewart; Enid M Hunkeler; Bobbi Jo Yarborough; Frances Lynch; Karen J Coleman; Arne Beck; Belinda H Operskalski; Robert B Penfold; David S Carrell Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2018-01-24 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Karen J Coleman; Bobbi Jo Yarborough; Arne Beck; Frances L Lynch; Christine Stewart; Robert S Penfold; Enid M Hunkeler; Belinda H Operskalski; Gregory E Simon Journal: Ethn Dis Date: 2019-10-17 Impact factor: 1.847