Sayed Muhammad Sultan, Muhammad Shah.
Factors delaying psychiatric consultation in first episode psychosis - A retrospective cross-sectional study.
J Med Sci Jan ;14(1):21-5.

Background: Approximately 1% of the general population and 2% of the adolescent population suffers from untreated psychosis. The current study presents data on the initial treatment contact after the 1st episode psychosis with an emphasis on the factors delaying professional consultation and the trends and tendencies of treatment contact. Research methodology: Admitted patients to Psychiatry Unit Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar with first episode psychosis were analyzed retrospectively through reviews of their case notes. Results: In 35% of the cases, the consultation was delayed due to lack of education and awareness, in 26% due to false beliefs, in 8% due to socio cultural factors, in >10%, due to lack of medical facilities and expertise, in 18% due to poor socioeconomic status and in a minority of patients (< 1%) the consultation was delayed because of side effects of medical/psychiatric treatment in a close relative. Younger age, male gender, married status and good socioeconomic background were associated with earlier treatment contact. Conclusion: Lack of awareness and education was found to be the major causes of professional consultation delays while false beliefs leading to visits to faith healers and poor socioeconomic conditions were the other major factors. The overall level of awareness about mental illnesses would have to be increased in order to improve the ultimate outcome of patients presenting with psychotic disorders.

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