Waiting time variation in Early Intervention Psychosis services: longitudinal evidence from the SEPEA naturalistic cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Early Intervention Psychosis [EIP] services have gained traction internationally, but are currently undergoing various forms of reconfiguration. In England, such services are now mandated to ensure 50% of accepted referrals commence care within 14 days, but no empirical evidence exists. We sought to estimate waiting times to EIP services in a large, representative epidemiological cohort in England, and investigate possible reasons for any variation.

Methods

We estimated median waiting time from referral to acceptance by EIP services and investigated whether this varied by clinical, demographic or neighbourhood-level factors, amongst 798 participants, 16-35 years old, presenting to six EIP services over 3.5 years in a defined catchment area serving 2.5 million people.

SUBMITTER: Kirkbride JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5423995 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature