Removing barriers to treatment of first-episode psychotic disorders

Objective: To describe changes aimed at removing barriers to appropriate and timely assessment and treatment of first-episode psychosis (FEP) and to present descriptive data regarding the potential impact of such changes on treated incidence, referral patterns, and treatment delay. Method: We collected demographic and clinical information, including duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), on 196 persons referred for an initial assessment over a 3-year period. Results: The number of identified FEP cases increased and DUP decreased over the 3-year period. The data suggest a differentially greater reduction in DUP in cases referred from sources other than health care. Conclusion: These preliminary results suggest that, when setting up programs for FEP, relatively simple changes designed to improve access may improve treated incidence and reduce treatment delays.