Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that leads to significant productivity loss and is listed in the top 15 global burdens of disease. One important contributor to the high disease burden is duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) which can be shortened with promotion of professional help-seeking behavior. This study explored caregivers' perspective on factors influencing professional help-seeking behavior during first episode psychosis (FEP) in schizophrenia in Malaysia. The results of this study would inform the development of intervention strategies targeted at promoting professional help-seeking behavior in caregivers of individuals experiencing first episode psychosis (FEP). This is a thematic exploratory study which employed purposive sampling using focus group discussion (FGD). These interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Basic thematic approach was used in analyzing the transcribed interviews. Two main themes identified were adequacy of knowledge and stigma. These two factors were found to co-influence each other. Stigma undermined the impact of knowledge on professional help-seeking; likewise, the reverse was also observed. Intervention strategies for promoting help-seeking behavior during FEP should simultaneously focus on improving knowledge about schizophrenia and reducing the stigma attached to it.
Highlights
Schizophrenia is one of the leading contributors to the high disease burden caused by mental, neurological and substance-use (MNS) disorders
A total of 18 (n = 18) primary caregivers of patients with schizophrenia who fulfilled the study criteria were interviewed in five focus group discussions (Table 2)
In a qualitative study looking at how people identify and respond to emerging psychosis, Judge et al [16] found themes like normalization, giving explanation, withdrawal, avoiding help and coming to terms with psychosis which posed as barriers to help-seeking [16]
Summary
Schizophrenia is one of the leading contributors to the high disease burden caused by mental, neurological and substance-use (MNS) disorders. It contributes to 16.8 million of disability-adjusted life year (DALY) [1] and remains one of the top 15 leading causes of disability worldwide [2]. Despite the high burdens caused by the illness, research to improve its outcome is still inadequate. In. Factors Influencing Professional Help-Seeking in Schizophrenia addressing the huge research gap in mental health, the Global Mental Health Initiative has identified priorities for research to improve the lives of people with mental illness worldwide [1]. Goal B which is “Advance prevention and implementation of early interventions”, targets at reducing the duration of untreated illness by developing culturally-sensitive early interventions [1]
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