Duration of Untreated Psychosis in Community Treatment Settings in the United States

Publication Date

2015

Journal Title

Psychiatr Serv

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study is the first to examine duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) among persons receiving care in community mental health centers in the United States. METHODS: Participants were 404 individuals (ages 15-40) who presented for treatment for first-episode psychosis at 34 nonacademic clinics in 21 states. DUP and individual- and site-level variables were measured. RESULTS: Median DUP was 74 weeks (mean=193.5+/-262.2 weeks; 68% of participants had DUP of greater than six months). Correlates of longer DUP included earlier age at first psychotic symptoms, substance use disorder, positive and general symptom severity, poorer functioning, and referral from outpatient treatment settings. CONCLUSIONS: This study reported longer DUP than studies conducted in academic settings but found similar correlates of DUP. Reducing DUP in the United States will require examination of factors in treatment delay in local service settings and targeted strategies for closing gaps in pathways to specialty FEP care.

Volume Number

66

Issue Number

7

Pages

753-6

Document Type

Article

EPub Date

2015/01/16

Status

Faculty, Northwell Researcher

Facility

School of Medicine; Northwell Health

Primary Department

Psychiatry

Additional Departments

Molecular Medicine

PMID

25588418

DOI

10.1176/appi.ps.201400124

For the public and Northwell Health campuses

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