Service Users ’Priorities and Preferences forTreatment of Psychosis: A User-Led Delphi Study

Rory Byrne, B.Sc. Anthony P. Morrison
Full Article

Objective:

Service users may have different priorities and preferences for treatment compared with mental health professionals. Few studies have explored these potentially important differences. This study sought consensus from a sample of service users regarding priorities and preferences for treatment of psychosis. Methods: A three-stage Delphi study exploring treatment priorities and preferences was conducted with a sample of mental health service users (“experts by experience”).Aftergenerationofan initial statement list (stage 1, N56 participants), 64 diverse elements of mental health treatment were rated during a two-stage online survey process (stage 2, N532; stage 3, N521). Results: Fifteen of 64 treatment-related statements were endorsed as important or essential treatment priorities or preferences by more than 80% of participants during stage 2. Two further statements were similarly endorsed during stage 3. Conclusions: This study is among the first of its kind and highlights the importance of assessing individual treatment priorities.(PsychiatricServices65:1167– 1169, 2014; doi: 10.1176/appi. ps.201300289)