HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS British Journal of Psychiatry Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Brunet, K. Articles by Thornhill, K. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Brunet, K. Articles by Thornhill, K.

Delays in mental health services and duration of untreated psychosis

^*School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, correspondence: Early Detection and Intervention Team, 1 Miller Street, Aston, Birmingham B6 4NH, email: k.brunet{at}bham.ac.uk

Max Birchwood, Professor of Mental Health

School of Psychology, University of Birmingham

Helen Lester, Professor of Primary Care

Department of Primary Care and General Practice, University of Birmingham

Kate Thornhill, Research Assistant

School of Psychology, University of Birmingham

Declaration of interest

None.

AIMS AND METHOD

To dissect duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) into three components: help-seeking delay, referral delay and delay in mental health services, all mental health services in a defined geographical region were screened over a period of 1 year. All cases of first-episode psychosis without a primary mood disorder were identified (n=55).

RESULTS

The median delay within secondary services was over seven times the delay in the referral pathway. The mean delay in mental health services accounted for 35% of overall DUP.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Intervention is required in secondary as well as primary care services if DUP is to be reduced.