A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Pathways to care in subjects at high risk for psychotic disorders – A European perspective
Subtitle: A European perspective
Authors: von Reventlow HG, Krüger-Özgürdal S, Ruhrmann S, Schultze-Lutter F, Heinz A, Patterson P, Heinimaa M, Dingemans P, French P, Birchwood M, Salokangas RKR, Linszen D, Morrison A, Klosterkötter J, Juckel G
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Publishing place: AMSTERDAM; PO BOX 211, 1000 AE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
Publication year: 2014
Journal: Schizophrenia Research
Journal name in source: Schizophrenia research
Journal acronym: Schizophr.Res.
Volume: 152
Issue: 2-3
First page : 400
Last page: 407
Number of pages: 8
ISSN: 0920-9964
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2013.11.031
Evidence-based decisions on indicated prevention in early psychosis require large-scale studies on the pathways to care in high-risk subjects. EPOS (The European Prediction of Psychosis Study), a prospective multi-center, naturalistic field study in four European countries (Finland, Germany, The Netherlands and England), was designed to acquire accurate knowledge about pathways to care and delay in obtaining specialized high risk care. Our high risk sample (n = 233) reported on average 2.9 help-seeking contacts, with an average delay between onset of relevant problems to initial help-seeking contact of 72.6 weeks, and between initial help-seeking contact and reaching specialized high risk care of 110.9 weeks. This resulted in a total estimated duration of an unrecognized risk for psychosis of 31/2 years. Across EPOS EU regions, about 90% of care pathway contacts were within professional health care sectors. Between EPOS regions, differences in the pathways parameters including early detection and health-care systems were often very pronounced. High-risk participants who later made transition to a full psychotic disorder had significantly longer delays between initial help-seeking and receiving appropriate interventions. Our study underlines the need for regionally adapted implementation of early detection and intervention programs within respective mental health and health care networks, including enhancing public awareness of early psychosis. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
