Factors Influencing Professional Help-Seeking Behavior During First Episode Psychosis in Schizophrenia

An Exploratory Study on Caregivers’ Perspective

Bibliographic Data

ID15526856
AuthorsDaniel Teck Lung Wong (University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre), Seng Fah Tong (0000-0002-8725-1536, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre), Tuti Iryani Mohd Daud (0000-0002-9780-1191, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre), Salina Abdul Aziz (0000-0002-4967-9224, Ministry of Health), Marhani Midin (University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume10
Pages962-962
Publication date2020-02-14
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00962
PMID32116809
OpenAlexW3006220286
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited40

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

dup · Environmental health · Exploratory research · Family medicine · Focus group · Help-seeking · Intervention (counseling · Mental health · Mental illness · Nonprobability sampling · Perspective (graphical · Population · Psychiatry · Psychosis · Qualitative research · Schizophrenia (object-oriented programming · Social stigma · Stigma (botany · Thematic analysis · Clinical Psychology · Family Caregiving in Mental Illness · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology · Schizophrenia research and treatment

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