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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 12/2006

Open Access 01-12-2006 | ORIGINAL PAPER

Help-seeking pathways in early psychosis

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 12/2006

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Abstract

Introduction

Understanding the help-seeking pathways of patients with a putative risk of developing psychosis helps improving development of specialised care services. This study aimed at obtaining information about: type of health professionals contacted by patients at putative risk for psychosis on their help-seeking pathways; number of contacts; type of symptoms leading to contacts with health professionals; interval between initial contact and referral to a specialised outpatient service.

Method

The help-seeking pathways were assessed as part of a prospective study in 104 patients with suspected at-risk states for psychosis.

Results

The mean number of contacts prior to referral was 2.38. Patients with psychotic symptoms more often contacted mental health professionals, whereas patients with insidious and more unspecific features more frequently contacted general practitioners (GPs).

Conclusions

GPs have been found to under-identify the insidious features of emerging psychosis (Simon et al. (2005) Br J Psychiatry 187:274–281). The fact that they were most often contacted by patients with exactly these features calls for focussed and specialised help for primary care physicians. Thus, delays along the help-seeking pathways may be shortened. This may be of particular relevance for patients with the deficit syndrome of schizophrenia.
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Metadata
Title
Help-seeking pathways in early psychosis
Publication date
01-12-2006
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 12/2006
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0117-4

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