Predictors of diagnostic delay: Assessment of psychiatric disorders in the clinic

Background: Diagnostic delay contributes to morbidity in psychiatric disorders. Methods: Patients in an ambulatory psychiatry clinic were given patient-reported outcome measures at an initial visit, and a subset (N=493) were given a structured interview (MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview, MINI), in addition to the clinical encounter (CLIN). Diagnostic agreement between MINI and CLIN was assessed at an initial and follow-up visit. Diagnostic delay was identified if diagnostic disagreement between MINI and CLIN occurred at initial visit and changed to agreement at a follow-up visit. Registry data was compiled by an honest broker. Results: Significant agreement occurred between MINI and CLIN diagnoses for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Bipolar Disorder (BD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder. Diagnostic agreement for MDD occurred at initial visit for 63% of patients, and at follow-up for 87% of those with initial diagnostic disagreement; for BD, 75% at initial visit and 28% at follow-up. No demographic, socioeconomic, symptom severity or functioning measures predicted diagnostic agreement for the MDD group at the first visit, however initial psychopathological symptom complexity predicted diagnostic agreement in the diagnostic delay group. Initial diagnostic agreement for BD was predicted by lower symptom burden and better social, physical and occupational functioning. No factors predicted additional diagnostic agreement at the second visit in the diagnostic delay group. Conclusion: Initial assessment by a structured interview aided physicians in identifying MDD by the second visit in patients with complex psychopathology. Patients with high complexity/severity of symptoms and more difficulty with functioning were less commonly identified with BD even with the assistance of a structured interview. Use of structured assessment tools may improve the detection of psychiatric illness by clinicians at the first visit.

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Work Title Predictors of diagnostic delay: Assessment of psychiatric disorders in the clinic
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Open Access
Creators
  1. E Saunders
  2. D Mukherjee
  3. Daniel A Waschbusch
  4. D Liao
  5. A M Pearl
  6. E M Aksu
  7. E O Bixler
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Depression and Anxiety
Publication Date May 1, 2021
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.23110
Deposited August 20, 2021

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  • Added PCARES_manuscript_ADULT_DATA_1_ES_3c2_7b_rev_CLEAN_for_accepted_copy.pdf
  • Added Creator E Saunders
  • Added Creator D Mukherjee
  • Added Creator Daniel A Waschbusch
  • Added Creator D Liao
  • Added Creator A M Pearl
  • Added Creator E M Aksu
  • Added Creator E O Bixler
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