Pathways to psychiatric care in Bangladesh

The pattern of care seeking of psychiatric patients is important for service and policy issues. We conducted a study in 2008 in Bangladesh to find out the referral patterns, delays to reach mental health professional (MHP), diagnoses and treatment received before reaching psychiatric care etc.

We interviewed 50 consecutive new patients at the Psychiatry outpatient department of a tertiary hospital using the translated version of WHO pathway encounter form.

84% of the patients we interviewed consulted other carers before they arrived at a MHP (2.5–3.1 steps were needed to reach MHP) and the range of delay was 8–78 weeks (indirect pathway). 16% of the patients came directly to a MHP with mean delay of 10.5 weeks from onset of mental illness (direct pathway). Among the patients who took the indirect pathway 44% first visited the Individual Private practitioners (PP), 22% first visited native or religious healers (NRH) and 12% rural medical practitioners (RMP). Patients reaching NRH or RMP made the least delay (2–2.5 weeks) and the shortest pathway to MHP (4.5–7 weeks). Most delay occurred from PP to MHP/General Hospital (22–31 weeks). About a third of patients were informed of diagnosis with poor concordance with the diagnosis made by MHP. 70 and 40% of patients with mental illness who attended General Hospital and PP were referred to MHP, respectively.

In the study we found four major pathways to mental health care in Bangladesh. They are direct pathway and referrals from PP, general hospitals and NRH. PP did not play a pivotal role in reaching MHP. Family members had a significant role on the decision to seek help from health service.