Tara Burke1, Andrew Thompson1, Nathan Mifsud1, Alison R Yung1, Barnaby Nelson1, Patrick McGorry1, Brian O'Donoghue2. 1. Orygen, 35 Poplar Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia. 2. Orygen, 35 Poplar Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia. Electronic address: Brian.odonoghue@orygen.org.au.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Services for young people identified as having an 'at-risk mental state' (ARMS) aim to prevent transition to first-episode psychosis (FEP), in addition, early intervention services for other mental health disorders have also been developed. The aim of the current study was to determine the proportion of young people attending a specialist FEP service who had been referred via other early intervention clinics, including an ARMS clinic, and compare the characteristics to those who presented directly to the FEP service. METHODS: We included young people diagnosed with FEP who received treatment at Orygen between 01.01.2012 and 31.12.2016. We examined rates of direct entry to the First Episode Psychosis service and rates from other early intervention services, specifically ARMS, personality disorders, mood disorders and a primary care youth mental health service clinics. RESULTS: 1138 young people were diagnosed with a FEP, of whom 13.7% first attended an ARMS clinic and a further 7.6% attended other youth mental health services. Individuals who first presented to an ARMS clinic were more likely to be female, younger, and less likely to be migrants or use substances. Rates of both voluntary and involuntary hospital admissions were significantly reduced for young people who transitioned from the ARMS clinic, the personality disorder clinic or the primary care service compared to those who presented directly with FEP. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of young people with FEP initially attended another specialist youth mental health service, and importantly, they had much lower rates of hospital admission at the time of transition to FEP.
BACKGROUND: Services for young people identified as having an 'at-risk mental state' (ARMS) aim to prevent transition to first-episode psychosis (FEP), in addition, early intervention services for other mental health disorders have also been developed. The aim of the current study was to determine the proportion of young people attending a specialist FEP service who had been referred via other early intervention clinics, including an ARMS clinic, and compare the characteristics to those who presented directly to the FEP service. METHODS: We included young people diagnosed with FEP who received treatment at Orygen between 01.01.2012 and 31.12.2016. We examined rates of direct entry to the First Episode Psychosis service and rates from other early intervention services, specifically ARMS, personality disorders, mood disorders and a primary care youth mental health service clinics. RESULTS: 1138 young people were diagnosed with a FEP, of whom 13.7% first attended an ARMS clinic and a further 7.6% attended other youth mental health services. Individuals who first presented to an ARMS clinic were more likely to be female, younger, and less likely to be migrants or use substances. Rates of both voluntary and involuntary hospital admissions were significantly reduced for young people who transitioned from the ARMS clinic, the personality disorder clinic or the primary care service compared to those who presented directly with FEP. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of young people with FEP initially attended another specialist youth mental health service, and importantly, they had much lower rates of hospital admission at the time of transition to FEP.
Authors: Ulla Lång; Hugh Ramsay; Kathryn Yates; Juha Veijola; David Gyllenberg; Mary C Clarke; Finbarr P Leacy; Mika Gissler; Ian Kelleher Journal: World Psychiatry Date: 2022-10 Impact factor: 79.683