Family-level predictors and correlates of the duration of untreated psychosis in African American first-episode patients.

Background: Little is known about how family-level factors are associated with duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), especially in ethnic/racial minority groups, such as African Americans. This study involved African American first-episode patients and their family members who initiated evaluation and treatment for them. It was hypothesized that a longer DUP would be predicted by family members' endorsement of: (1) less knowledge about schizophrenia, (2) greater perceptions of stigma, (3) lower levels of insight, (4) fewer family strengths, (5) more limited family coping capacity, and (6) lower levels of caregiver strain.

Methods: From a sample of 109 patients, 42 African American patients with family-level data were included. Cox proportional hazard models quantified associations between family-level predictors and DUP, and analyses controlled for effects of three previously determined patient-level predictors of DUP - mode of onset of psychosis, living with family members versus alone or with others, and living above versus below the federal poverty level.

Results: The median DUP was 24.5 weeks. Greater family strengths and a better family coping capacity were associated with a shorter DUP, whereas higher insight among informants and greater level of perceived caregiver strain were associated with a longer DUP.

Conclusions: Whereas family strengths and coping likely account for a significant portion of variability in DUP, both insight and caregiver strain probably evolve as a consequence of DUP. Efforts to strengthen families and tap into existing strengths of families in specific cultural groups would likely enhance early treatment-seeking for psychotic disorders.