Alexandros N Vgontzas, Eirini M Mitropoulou, Kalliopi Diakaki, Vasiliki Galanopoulou, Avgi Zografaki, Maria Anastasaki, Maria Daskalaki, Vasilis Chatziorphanos, Aikaterini Koutra, Panagiotis G Simos
{"title":"希腊/希腊农村精神病谱系障碍或双相情感障碍患者早期发现的挑战:流动精神卫生单位的作用。","authors":"Alexandros N Vgontzas, Eirini M Mitropoulou, Kalliopi Diakaki, Vasiliki Galanopoulou, Avgi Zografaki, Maria Anastasaki, Maria Daskalaki, Vasilis Chatziorphanos, Aikaterini Koutra, Panagiotis G Simos","doi":"10.1177/00207640251358331","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Early detection and intervention are considered important determinants of long-term outcomes of severe mental disorders. Preliminary evidence has shown that in Crete/Greece in rural areas there is a significant delay in seeking mental health care for patients with psychosis or bipolar disorder.</p><p><strong>Aims/objectives: </strong>The primary aim of this study is to examine: the mean age and percentage of involuntary admissions of patients with psychotic spectrum or bipolar disorder at first admission/visit; and whether these associations were affected over the 10 years of the mobile mental health unit (MMHU) operation (2013-2023). A secondary objective is to analyze demographic and clinical differences between younger and older patients at first admission/visit.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants were adults >15 years, diagnosed with psychotic spectrum disorder or bipolar disorder, living within a well-defined catchment-area in Crete/Greece. We compared age of first admission/visit for psychotic or bipolar patients at three time points, specifically years 2013, 2018, and 2023 and differences of patients' demographic and clinical characteristics based on age of first admission/visit.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The average age of first admission/visit for patients with psychotic spectrum disorders ranges from 39.7 to 43.1, while the average age range for those with bipolar disorder is approximately 40.7 to 45.97 years. Notably, there was no reduction of the age of first admission/visit over the ten years of the MMHU operation (2013-2023), whereas there was a high percentage of involuntary admissions. Finally, patients who are single, abuse drugs, and have a higher education are more prone to seek psychiatric help earlier.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In rural Crete/Greece the average age of seeking mental care for both disorders was and remains markedly high. The lack of consistent and reliable mental health services coupled with the fear of stigma and cultural characteristics of Greek families and small rural towns, discourages individuals seeking mental health care early.</p>","PeriodicalId":14304,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"207640251358331"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"Challenges in the early detection of patients with psychotic spectrum disorder or bipolar disorder in rural Grete/Greece: The role of the mobile mental health unit.\",\"authors\":\"Alexandros N Vgontzas, Eirini M Mitropoulou, Kalliopi Diakaki, Vasiliki Galanopoulou, Avgi Zografaki, Maria Anastasaki, Maria Daskalaki, Vasilis Chatziorphanos, Aikaterini Koutra, Panagiotis G Simos\",\"doi\":\"10.1177/00207640251358331\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Early detection and intervention are considered important determinants of long-term outcomes of severe mental disorders. Preliminary evidence has shown that in Crete/Greece in rural areas there is a significant delay in seeking mental health care for patients with psychosis or bipolar disorder.</p><p><strong>Aims/objectives: </strong>The primary aim of this study is to examine: the mean age and percentage of involuntary admissions of patients with psychotic spectrum or bipolar disorder at first admission/visit; and whether these associations were affected over the 10 years of the mobile mental health unit (MMHU) operation (2013-2023). A secondary objective is to analyze demographic and clinical differences between younger and older patients at first admission/visit.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants were adults >15 years, diagnosed with psychotic spectrum disorder or bipolar disorder, living within a well-defined catchment-area in Crete/Greece. We compared age of first admission/visit for psychotic or bipolar patients at three time points, specifically years 2013, 2018, and 2023 and differences of patients' demographic and clinical characteristics based on age of first admission/visit.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The average age of first admission/visit for patients with psychotic spectrum disorders ranges from 39.7 to 43.1, while the average age range for those with bipolar disorder is approximately 40.7 to 45.97 years. Notably, there was no reduction of the age of first admission/visit over the ten years of the MMHU operation (2013-2023), whereas there was a high percentage of involuntary admissions. Finally, patients who are single, abuse drugs, and have a higher education are more prone to seek psychiatric help earlier.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In rural Crete/Greece the average age of seeking mental care for both disorders was and remains markedly high. The lack of consistent and reliable mental health services coupled with the fear of stigma and cultural characteristics of Greek families and small rural towns, discourages individuals seeking mental health care early.</p>\",\"PeriodicalId\":14304,\"journal\":{\"name\":\"International Journal of Social Psychiatry\",\"volume\":\" \",\"pages\":\"207640251358331\"},\"PeriodicalIF\":2.7000,\"publicationDate\":\"2025-08-17\",\"publicationTypes\":\"Journal Article\",\"fieldsOfStudy\":null,\"isOpenAccess\":false,\"openAccessPdf\":\"\",\"citationCount\":\"0\",\"resultStr\":null,\"platform\":\"Semanticscholar\",\"paperid\":null,\"PeriodicalName\":\"International Journal of Social Psychiatry\",\"FirstCategoryId\":\"3\",\"ListUrlMain\":\"https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640251358331\",\"RegionNum\":4,\"RegionCategory\":\"医学\",\"ArticlePicture\":[],\"TitleCN\":null,\"AbstractTextCN\":null,\"PMCID\":null,\"EPubDate\":\"\",\"PubModel\":\"\",\"JCR\":\"Q2\",\"JCRName\":\"PSYCHIATRY\",\"Score\":null,\"Total\":0}","platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640251358331","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
Challenges in the early detection of patients with psychotic spectrum disorder or bipolar disorder in rural Grete/Greece: The role of the mobile mental health unit.
Background: Early detection and intervention are considered important determinants of long-term outcomes of severe mental disorders. Preliminary evidence has shown that in Crete/Greece in rural areas there is a significant delay in seeking mental health care for patients with psychosis or bipolar disorder.
Aims/objectives: The primary aim of this study is to examine: the mean age and percentage of involuntary admissions of patients with psychotic spectrum or bipolar disorder at first admission/visit; and whether these associations were affected over the 10 years of the mobile mental health unit (MMHU) operation (2013-2023). A secondary objective is to analyze demographic and clinical differences between younger and older patients at first admission/visit.
Methods: Participants were adults >15 years, diagnosed with psychotic spectrum disorder or bipolar disorder, living within a well-defined catchment-area in Crete/Greece. We compared age of first admission/visit for psychotic or bipolar patients at three time points, specifically years 2013, 2018, and 2023 and differences of patients' demographic and clinical characteristics based on age of first admission/visit.
Results: The average age of first admission/visit for patients with psychotic spectrum disorders ranges from 39.7 to 43.1, while the average age range for those with bipolar disorder is approximately 40.7 to 45.97 years. Notably, there was no reduction of the age of first admission/visit over the ten years of the MMHU operation (2013-2023), whereas there was a high percentage of involuntary admissions. Finally, patients who are single, abuse drugs, and have a higher education are more prone to seek psychiatric help earlier.
Conclusions: In rural Crete/Greece the average age of seeking mental care for both disorders was and remains markedly high. The lack of consistent and reliable mental health services coupled with the fear of stigma and cultural characteristics of Greek families and small rural towns, discourages individuals seeking mental health care early.
期刊介绍:
The International Journal of Social Psychiatry, established in 1954, is a leading publication dedicated to the field of social psychiatry. It serves as a platform for the exchange of research findings and discussions on the influence of social, environmental, and cultural factors on mental health and well-being. The journal is particularly relevant to psychiatrists and multidisciplinary professionals globally who are interested in understanding the broader context of psychiatric disorders and their impact on individuals and communities.
Social psychiatry, as a discipline, focuses on the origins and outcomes of mental health issues within a social framework, recognizing the interplay between societal structures and individual mental health. The journal draws connections with related fields such as social anthropology, cultural psychiatry, and sociology, and is influenced by the latest developments in these areas.
The journal also places a special emphasis on fast-track publication for brief communications, ensuring that timely and significant research can be disseminated quickly. Additionally, it strives to reflect its international readership by publishing state-of-the-art reviews from various regions around the world, showcasing the diverse practices and perspectives within the psychiatric disciplines. This approach not only contributes to the scientific understanding of social psychiatry but also supports the global exchange of knowledge and best practices in mental health care.