Most patients receiving a first diagnosis of a psychotic disorder had some indication of mental health care need during the previous year, according to a recent study. Electronic health records and insurance claims from 5 large integrated health systems were used to identify 624 patients, aged 15–29 years, who received a first diagnosis of a psychotic disorder in any care setting and to record health services received, diagnoses assigned, and medications dispensed during the previous 36 months. Researchers found:

• During the year before a first psychotic disorder diagnosis, 29% of patients had mental health specialty outpatient care, 8% had mental health inpatient care, 24% had emergency department mental health care, 29% made a primary care visit with a mental health diagnosis, and 60% received at least 1 mental health diagnosis (including substance use disorders).
• Compared with patients receiving a first diagnosis of unipolar depression, those with a first diagnosis of a psychotic disorder were modestly more likely to use all types of health services and were specifically more likely to use mental health inpatient care and mental health emergency department care.