ABSTRACT

Introduction: Prolonged duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) has long-term deleterious effects on outcomes. Research has focused on identifying factors contributing to prolonged DUP and initiatives to reduce the time it takes individuals to access treatment. Stigma may contribute to extended DUP, but there has been little exploration of the experience of stigma and its impact on accessing care.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the impact of stigma on decisions to seek care from the perspective of individuals with lived experience of psychosis and their caregivers.

Methods: A survey, developed by a group consisting of individuals with lived experience of psychosis, and distributed online, was designed to elicit quantitative and qualitative data relating to the experience of accessing care at the onset of psychosis. Qualitative data were analysed using Thematic Analysis.

Results: 193 respondents completed the survey. Qualitative analysis yielded themes including “perception of stigma” and “outcomes associated with stigma”.

Conclusions: There is a need to address stigma at the outset of treatment, and wider dissemination of information about psychosis is necessary. Future research should address cultural differences in individuals’ experiences of psychosis, as well as the role siblings play in the care of affected individuals.

摘要

简介：长期未治疗的精神病（DUP）对结局具有长期有害影响。研究重点在于确定导致DUP延长的因素，并采取措施减少个人获得治疗的时间。耻辱感可能会导致DUP的延长，但是很少有关于耻辱感及其对获得护理的影响的探索。

目的：本研究的目的是从有精神病患者及其护理人员经验的角度探讨耻辱感对寻求护理决策的影响。

方法：一项由具有丰富精神病经验的个人组成的小组进行的调查，并在线分发，旨在收集与精神病发作时获得治疗经验有关的定量和定性数据。使用主题分析法分析定性数据。

结果：193位受访者完成了调查。定性分析得出的主题包括“耻辱感”和“与耻辱相关的结果”。

结论：有必要在治疗开始时就解决污名，并且必须广泛传播有关精神病的信息。未来的研究应该解决个体精神病经历中的文化差异，以及同胞在照顾受影响个体中所起的作用。