Duration of Untreated Psychosis (DUP) and Pathways to Care in Nordland

Schizophrenia and Disorders With Psychotic Features Clinical Trial

Official title:

Duration of Untreated Psychosis (DUP) and Pathways to Care in Patients With First- and Multiple Episodes of Psychosis in Nordland - a Study of the Components of DUP in a Rural Mental Health System

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01196858
• Other study ID #: 2009/1426(REK)
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: September 6, 2010
• Last updated: January 6, 2014
• Start date: September 2010
• Est. completion date: September 2013

Study information

• Verified date: January 2014
• Source: University Hospital of North Norway
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Norway:National Committee for Medical and Health Research EthicsNorway: Norwegian Social Science Data ServicesNorway: Directorate of Health
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

During the 1990s, evidence began to emerge of the long duration of untreated illness prior to receiving treatment for patients with psychotic disorders. Studies across the world on first episode psychosis have consistently found an average of 1 - 2 years between the onset of psychotic symptoms and the start of treatment. Lengthy treatment delay has immediate implications such as unnecessary distress for patients and families, and may also compromise potential recovery when treatment is initiated.By understanding how and why substantial delays occur the investigators may be able to better design interventions to facilitate better earlier treatment. The components of DUP can be conceptualised as comprising 3 distinct intervals: help-seeking delay, referral delay and delay in mental health services. In this study the primary aim is to establish the level of DUP in nordland, and explore the components of this variable. Help-seeking delay will be investigated by interviewing patients presenting at the central mental health hospital in Nordland about their psychosis onset and pathways to care. Referral delay will be investigated by a questionnaire about the referral pratices among GPs in Nordland. Delays in mental health services will be investigated by focus group interviews with leaders and professionals at the 7 community mental health centers in Nordland. This knowledge is believed to be crucial for developing services that can reduce DUP and give this patient population earlier access to adequate treatment.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 62
• Est. completion date: September 2013
• Est. primary completion date: September 2013
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 16 Years to 35 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Any patient presenting with a possible psychotic illness (including schizophrenia, affective psychosis and drug-related psychosis, but excluding organic psychosis).

• Understands and speaks norwegian

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe learning disability

Study Design

Observational Model: Cohort, Time Perspective: Retrospective

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Affective Disorders, Psychotic
• Affective Psychosis, Bipolar
• Bipolar Disorder
• Mental Disorders
• Psychoses
• Psychotic Disorders
• Schizophrenia and Disorders with Psychotic Features

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Norway	Nordland Hospital Trust	Bodoe

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University Hospital of North Norway	The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Health

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Norway, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Duration of untreated psychosis	Nottingham Onset Schedule	retrospective, lifetime	No