Pathways to care: help seeking behaviour in first episode psychosis

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Abstract
Objective:  To determine the number of attempts it took before patients with a first episode of psychosis received adequate help, the signs or symptoms that led them to seek help and the people from whom they attempted to seek help.Method:  Subjects were 86 individuals with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, mainly schizophrenia, who were attending a comprehensive program for early psychosis treatment.Results:  Help‐seeking attempts began in the prodromal phase of the illness and continued into the psychotic phase. Concerning behaviours ranged from more general symptoms to psychotic symptoms. A range of contacts were made early on but emergency services were most often the contact that helped individuals obtain appropriate treatment for psychosis.Conclusion:  Improved public education and gatekeeper education might reduce the time required for individuals developing a psychosis to receive timely and adequate care.