A recent study led by researchers from University College London (UCL) has found that individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds in England are less likely to receive early psychological interventions for their first psychotic episode. The study, published in Psychiatry Research and led by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Mental Health Policy Research Unit at UCL, highlights the importance of early treatment for improving long-term outcomes for individuals with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.
The researchers analyzed three years of data from the National Clinical Audit of Psychosis, which included information on 29,610 individuals with first-episode psychosis who were in contact with Early Intervention in Psychosis services in England. The study focused on two key non-pharmacological treatments for early psychosis: tailored talk therapy, known as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for psychosis (CBTp), and family interventions that support families in assisting individuals with psychosis.
The findings revealed that only 47% of individuals experiencing their first episode of psychosis received CBTp and only 21% received family intervention, regardless of ethnic background. Ethnic minority groups, including South Asian, Chinese, and Black individuals, were nearly half as likely to receive CBTp compared to their white British counterparts. Bangladeshi individuals were found to be the least likely to receive CBTp. Additionally, some ethnic groups, particularly Black adults, were less likely to receive family intervention services.
Although the study did not explore the causes of these disparities, the researchers suggest that various factors may contribute, including misperceptions regarding the appropriateness of treatments, lack of interpreters, lower engagement with mental health services, and perceptions of treatments that are not tailored to their specific needs. Some ethnic groups also experience coercive pathways to care, such as involuntary hospital admissions, which can reduce trust in healthcare professionals and services.
Professor Sonia Johnson, Director of the Mental Health Policy Research Unit at UCL Psychiatry, commented on the findings, stating that despite a national service model aimed at ensuring equitable treatment, many individuals with psychosis are still not receiving early intervention. She emphasized the importance of mental health care providers being aware of and addressing these disparities, as well as the need for further research, ideally involving service users themselves, to better understand the complex reasons behind the disparities and to identify effective strategies for addressing them.
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- Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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