Variation in duration of untreated psychosis in an 18‐year perspective. Issue 4 (17th June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: ten Velden Hegelstad, Wenche; Joa, Inge; Barder, Helene; Evensen, Julie; Haahr, Ulrik; Johannessen, Jan O.; Langeveld, Johannes; Melle, Ingrid; Opjordsmoen, Stein; Røssberg, Jan Ivar; Rund, Bjørn Rishovd; Simonsen, Erik; Vaglum, Per; McGlashan, Thomas; Friis, Svein; Larsen, Tor K.
• Is Part Of: Early intervention in psychiatry. Volume 8:Issue 4(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 323
• Page End: 331
• Publication Date: 2013-06-17
• Subjects: Mental health -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Research -- Periodicals; Mental illness -- Prevention -- Research -- Periodicals; Mental illness -- Treatment -- Research -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1111/eip.12057
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-7885

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="eip12057-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>The Scandinavian TIPS project engineered an early detection of psychosis programme that sought to reduce the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) through early detection teams and extensive information campaigns since 1997. In 1997–2000, DUP was reduced from 26 to 4.5 weeks median. The programme was continued beyond the initial project in modified forms for over 13 years. The aim of this study was to track the vicissitudes of DUP over an 18‐year period (1993–2010) with differing early detection efforts in a defined catchment area.</p> </sec> <sec id="eip12057-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Method</title> <p>The DUP of all patients meeting criteria for first episode psychosis was measured 1993–1994 and from 1997 to 2010 in a naturalistic long‐term study. DUP values of all patients were included, irrespective of patients' participation in a clinical follow‐up study, yielding a highly representative sample.</p> </sec> <sec id="eip12057-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>DUP varied across studies with differing information campaign intensity and content. These variations will be described and explored.</p> </sec> <sec id="eip12057-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Early detection campaigns should have a stable focus and high intensity level. Future research should further elucidate pathways to care in order to establish principal targets for information campaigns.</p> </sec> </abstract>