Abstract
Background Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) services offer up to 3 years’ treatment to people with a first episode of psychosis. Service users (SUs) are then discharged to primary care or community mental health teams. There is limited research on SU/carer experiences of transition from EIP to onward care.
Aim To examine the experiences of services users and carers of EIP services.
Method Longitudinal qualitative study. Ethics/HRA approvals gained. Semi-structured interviews with SUs (x17 around point of discharge from EIP; x13 second interviews > 6 months); carers (x14). Interviews conducted online/by telephone, recorded/transcribed with consent. Thematic analysis by multidisciplinary team. Public and patient input at all stages.
Results SUs valued relationships with EIP practitioners and expressed desire for more support during transition following discharge from EIP services, including proactive contact from primary care. SUs described feelings of disempowerment if discharged before they felt ready. Those with additional physical health conditions or neurodiverse conditions found the post-discharge period particularly challenging. Carers expressed concerns about re-accessing specialist support if needed. They often played a ‘case manager’ type role and had knowledge and expertise which wasn’t always valued by healthcare professionals. Carers were not offered support in the post-discharge period.
Conclusion This study highlights the importance of involving SUs and carers in EIP discharge planning. Collaboration is needed between SUs, carers and primary care while SUs are under EIP, to maintain relationships and support discharge. Proactive contact from primary care is needed during the early post-discharge period. Carer needs are often overlooked; primary care could utilise the ‘carers register’ and proactively offer support.
