Psychiatrie
Volume 13, Issue 3, 2016, Pages 152-157

Improving outcomes: Factors influencing help-seeking behaviors in immigrants and ethnic minorities with first-episode psychosis (Article)

Melle I.* , Berg A.O. , Leopold K. , Zarafonitis-Möller S. , Nerhus M. , Stouten L.H. , Bechdolf A.
  • a NORMENT K.G Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Oslo University Hospital HF, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Psychosis Research Unit/TOP, Ulleval Hospital, Building 49, Oslo, N-0424, Norway
  • b NORMENT K.G Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Oslo University Hospital HF, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Psychosis Research Unit/TOP, Ulleval Hospital, Building 49, Oslo, N-0424, Norway
  • c Vivantes Klinikum Am Urban and Friedrichshain, Berlin and Charite Medical University, Berlin, Germany
  • d Vivantes Klinikum Am Urban and Friedrichshain, Berlin and Charite Medical University, Berlin, Germany
  • e NORMENT K.G Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Oslo University Hospital HF, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Psychosis Research Unit/TOP, Ulleval Hospital, Building 49, Oslo, N-0424, Norway
  • f Centre for Early Psychosis, Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Hague, Netherlands
  • g Vivantes Klinikum Am Urban and Friedrichshain, Berlin and Charite Medical University, Berlin, Germany, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

Abstract

Background: Immigrants have increased risk of a poor recovery from first episode psychosis (FEP). Early treatment can improve prognosis, but having an immigrant background may influence pathways to care. Method: We present research of service use and factors influencing treatment outcome in immigrants with FEP. Service use was assessed in in-patients at an early intervention center in Berlin, Germany. Duration of untreated psychosis and beliefs about illness was assessed in a FEP study in Oslo, Norway and cognitive functioning in patients with FEP schizophrenia from the regular mental health services in The Hague, the Netherlands. The proportion of immigrants in Berlin and Oslo was at level with the local populations, while the proportion in The Hague appeared to be higher. Result: There were clear indications that mental health literacy, probably based in different cultural expectations, were lower in first generation immigrants (FGI). Findings regarding clinical insight were ambiguous. There were also indications that FGI had more cognitive problems, based in higher stress levels or in cognitive styles. Early psychosis services must take issues of immigration and ethnicity into consideration.

Author Keywords

Help-seeking behavior Immigration Ethnicity First-episode psychosis

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84997498670&partnerID=40&md5=552144cd5e236b54f671370ab9747e32
ISSN: 16144864
Original Language: English