Zartaloudi Afroditi
Department of Nursing, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2023;1425:171-181. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_16.
The purpose of the present study was to explore the duration between the onset of psychopathology and the first contact either with a sectorized Community Mental Health Centre (CMHC) of Athens area or other mental health services, identify the pathways to the CMHC as well as possible sociodemographic and clinical factors affecting help-seeking behavior. The sample consisted of 355 individuals who visited the CMHC, but had sought help from another mental health care source prior to their visit to the Centre (group A), and was compared with 398 individuals who had no previous contact with any other psychiatric service (group B). The average duration of untreated mental disorders was found to be 19.85 (SD 23.113) for males of group A and 26.26 (SD 41.158) for males of group B. Among females the mean duration was found to be 18.11 (SD 27.293) for group A and 22.21 (SD 29.440) for group B, a statistically significant difference. In group A, the intervening services referred the clients at an earlier stage. The striking difference is that only eight individuals (2%) of group B (first timers) were diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia contrasting to the 61 (17.4%) counterparts of group A. Individuals in our study diagnosed with psychosis seemed to have sought help first from other mental health services and delay to visit a CMHC. People who face problems resulting from their interpersonal or professional relationships often choose to have a first contact with a CMHC. Reduction of the delay in treatment will require clearer understanding of the contributing factors. Liaison activities with public and mental health sector services and outreach interventions to increase awareness on the early recognition of psychopathologic symptoms and the need for early referral could reduce the duration of untreated mental disorders.
本研究的目的是探究精神病理学发作与首次接触雅典地区的社区心理健康中心（CMHC）或其他心理健康服务机构之间的时长，确定前往CMHC的途径以及可能影响求助行为的社会人口学和临床因素。样本包括355名访问过CMHC但在访问该中心之前已从其他心理健康护理来源寻求过帮助的个体（A组），并与398名之前未与任何其他精神科服务机构接触过的个体（B组）进行比较。发现A组男性未经治疗的精神障碍平均时长为19.85（标准差23.113），B组男性为26.26（标准差41.158）。在女性中，A组的平均时长为18.11（标准差27.293），B组为22.21（标准差29.440），差异具有统计学意义。在A组中，中间服务机构更早地将客户转介过来。显著的差异在于，B组（首次就诊者）中只有8人（2%）被诊断患有精神分裂症，而A组的对应人数为61人（17.4%）。我们研究中被诊断患有精神病的个体似乎首先从其他心理健康服务机构寻求帮助，然后延迟访问CMHC。面临人际关系或职业关系问题的人通常会选择首先接触CMHC。减少治疗延迟需要更清楚地了解促成因素。与公共和心理健康部门服务的联络活动以及外展干预措施，以提高对精神病理症状早期识别和早期转诊必要性的认识，可能会减少未经治疗的精神障碍时长。
