Care pathways before first diagnosis of a psychotic disorder in adolescents and young adults

Abstract

Objective: The authors sought to describe patterns of health care use prior to first diagnosis of a psychotic disorder in a population-based sample. Method: Electronichealthrecordsandinsuranceclaimsfrom five large integrated health systems were used to identify 624 patients 15-29 years old who received a first diagnosis of a psychotic disorder in any care setting and to record health services received, diagnoses assigned, and medications dispensed during the previous 36 months. Patterns of utilization were compared between patients receiving a first diagnosis of a psychotic disorder and matched samples of general health system members and members receiving a first diagnosis of unipolar depression. Results: During the year before a first psychotic disorder diagnosis, 29% of patients had mental health specialty outpatient care, 8% had mental health inpatient care, 24% had emergency department mental health care, 29% made a primary care visit with a mental health diagnosis, and 60% received at least one mental health diagnosis (including substance use disorders). Compared with patients receiving a first diagnosis of unipolar depression, those with a first diagnosis of a psychotic disorder were modestly more likely to use all types of health services and were specifically more likely to use mental health inpatient care (odds ratio=2.96, 95% CI=1.97-4.43) and mental health emergency department care (rate ratio=3.74, 95% CI=3.39-4.53). Conclusions: Most patients receiving a first diagnosis of a psychotic disorder had someindicationofmentalhealth care need during the previous year. General useofprimary care or mental health services, however, does not clearly distinguish people who later receive a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder from those who later receive a diagnosis of unipolar depression. Use of inpatient or emergency department mental health care is a more specific indicator of risk.