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Thesis Format

Monograph

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Supervisor

Anderson, Kelly K.

Abstract

The long-term patterns of acute mental health service use after treatment in an early psychosis intervention (EPI) program are not well known. The objective of this thesis was to investigate the long-term patterns of acute mental health service use. We used health administrative data to examine the patterns and risk factors associated with acute mental health service use over the of 5- to 10-year period post-EPI admission. Between years 5 to 10 post-EPI admission, approximately one quarter of people contacted acute mental health services. Factors associated with acute mental health service use during this period included younger age at admission, and prior use of acute mental health services in the first 5 years post-EPI admission. Our findings show that a subset of people with psychotic disorders continue to have contact with acute mental health services over the longer-term and suggests that the service needs of people recovering from psychosis may not be met.

Summary for Lay Audience

Psychosis is used to describe conditions that seriously affect the mind and cause some loss of touch with reality. Psychosis is a symptom of serious mental health illnesses such as schizophrenia. A person experiencing psychosis may see, hear, or believe things that are not real. Psychotic disorders typically begin in late adolescence, and early adulthood, during a crucial developmental period for young people in school and work. Research has shown that early diagnosis and treatment for psychosis is crucial for improving the long-term course of psychosis and minimizing the disruption to various important aspects of patients' lives including their relationships, school, work, and independence. Hospitalizations, involuntary admissions, and emergency department services are commonly used mental health services, which may be necessary for young people experiencing a mental health crisis during the first few years after a first episode of psychosis. We know less about the long-term use of these acute mental health services 5- to 10-years after the first episode of psychosis. The overall goal of our thesis was to examine the long-term patterns of psychiatric hospitalization, involuntary admission, and mental health-related emergency department visits using healthcare data for people treated by an early psychosis intervention program in London, Ontario. We found that while the number of people using these services declined over time, a small proportion continued to have ongoing contact during the 5- to 10-year period after treatment from an early psychosis intervention program. We found that people with ongoing contact with acute services during the 5- to 10-year period were more likely to be younger and have previously used acute services during the first 5 years.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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