Delays in mental health services and duration of untreated psychosis

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.