1
|
MacDonald K, Mohan G, Pawliuk N, Joober R, Padmavati R, Rangaswamy T, Malla A, Iyer SN. Comparing treatment delays and pathways to early intervention services for psychosis in urban settings in India and Canada. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2023; 58:547-558. [PMID: 36571623 PMCID: PMC10088896 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-022-02414-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although extensively studied in high-income countries (HICs) and less so in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), pathways to care and treatment delays in early psychosis have not been compared across contexts. We compared pathways to early intervention for psychosis in an HIC (Montreal, Canada) and an LMIC (Chennai, India). We hypothesised that the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) would be longer in Chennai. METHODS The number of contacts preceding early intervention, referral sources, first contacts, and DUP and its referral and help-seeking components of first-episode psychosis patients at both sites were similarly measured and compared using chi-square analyses and t tests/one-way ANOVAs. RESULTS Overall and help-seeking DUPs of Chennai (N = 168) and Montreal (N = 165) participants were not significantly different. However, Chennai patients had shorter referral DUPs [mean = 12.0 ± 34.1 weeks vs. Montreal mean = 13.2 ± 28.7 weeks; t(302.57) = 4.40; p < 0.001] as the early intervention service was the first contact for 44% of them (vs. 5% in Montreal). Faith healers comprised 25% of first contacts in Chennai. Those seeing faith healers had significantly shorter help-seeking but longer referral DUPs. As predicted, most (93%) Montreal referrals came from medical sources. Those seeing psychologists/counsellors/social workers as their first contact had longer DUPs. CONCLUSION Differences in cultural views about mental illnesses and organizational structures shape pathways to care and their associations with treatment delays across contexts. Both formal and informal sources need to be targeted to reduce delays. Early intervention services being the first portal where help is sought can reduce DUP especially if accessed early on in the illness course.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen MacDonald
- Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychosis (PEPP-Montreal), Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Wilson Pavilion, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Greeshma Mohan
- Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF), R-7A North Main Road, Anna Nagar West Extension, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 101, India
| | - Nicole Pawliuk
- Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychosis (PEPP-Montreal), Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Wilson Pavilion, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Ridha Joober
- Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychosis (PEPP-Montreal), Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Wilson Pavilion, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Ramachandran Padmavati
- Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF), R-7A North Main Road, Anna Nagar West Extension, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 101, India
| | - Thara Rangaswamy
- Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF), R-7A North Main Road, Anna Nagar West Extension, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 101, India
| | - Ashok Malla
- Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychosis (PEPP-Montreal), Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Wilson Pavilion, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Srividya N Iyer
- Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychosis (PEPP-Montreal), Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Wilson Pavilion, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|