Factors determining, the time lost between onset of psychiatric disorders and first psychiatric consultation

ABSTRACT

To find out delay between onset of psychiatric illness and first psychiatric consultation; and the factors leading to such delay. Retrospective Study. Isra University Hospital from January 2002 to February 2004. The record of patients who had attended for psychiatric consultation at Isra University Hospital from January 2002 to February 2004; was transferred to a proforma on which demographic characteristics, diagnosis, delay and reason of delay in psychiatric contact after first onset of psychiatric disorder was recorded. The data was subjected to analysis after being fed on SPSS. Descriptive Statistics, i.e. frequencies, percentages and means were calculated. An average delay was of about 36.34 months. Neurotic patients, Females [37.63 months, as compared to 33.93 months' delay of males], and patients belonging to urban catchments [delay of 37.37 months as compared to 39.59 months' delay], had greater delay. Lack of awareness [25.41%] was found to be the most common reason for delay, followed by Un-reachable psychiatric facility [23.01%], non-affordability [21.27%], Stigma feeling [19.03%] and misconception that medicines are addictive [11.25%]. The delayed psychiatric help was pervasive in majority of people with the psychiatric disorders, studied. Most common reason of delay was found to be the lack of awareness about psychiatric illness