Hospitalization and help-seeking among first episode psychosis patients.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To examine hospitalization as part of a complex pathway to care in first episode psychosis (FEP), exploring help-seeking episodes (HSE) and their relationship to hospitalization. METHODS: Data from 66 patients at the Early Psychosis Intervention Clinic New Orleans (EPIC-NOLA), a coordinated specialty care (CSC) clinic, was obtained from Pathways to Care (PTC) assessments, which documents elements of help seeking. A chart review was performed identifying hospitalizations. RESULTS: Most patients were hospitalized multiple times (n = 37, M = 2.98, SD = 2.14). On average, patients had more hospitalizations prior to starting treatment at EPIC-NOLA (M = 1.72, SD = 1.35) than after (M = 1.27, SD = 1.79). Patients whose first HSE resulted in intake at EPIC-NOLA were significantly less likely to be hospitalized after intake than patients with multiple HSE (F(1,52.3) = 12.9, p < .001). There was a significant correlation (N = 42) between HSE and hospitalizations after intake (τb = .327 p < .05); patients seeking help more often were more likely to be hospitalized after intake. No significant correlations were found between duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and hospitalization. CONCLUSION: While results are correlational, several key relationships were noted. Fewer hospitalizations occurred after intake into EPIC-NOLA. Starting treatment after the first HSE was related to fewer future hospitalizations, compared to intake after multiple HSEs. Intake into a CSC clinic after a single HSE may reduce hospitalization. Additionally, increased HSE, not DUP, impacted patients' likelihood of hospitalization. This prompts treatment engagement during a first HSE to reduce hospitalization.