The circumstances of adults with a psychotic disorder

This article presents some findings about adults with a psychotic disorder who were identified in the OPCS surveys of psychiatric morbidity. The main aim of the analysis was to identify characteristics associated with differences in the circumstances and health-related behaviour of adults aged 16-64 with psychosis. The analysis covers people who were identified by the various criteria used on the surveys as having a psychotic illness and who were considered to be living in private households. First we describe briefly the survey methods used and how diagnoses of psychosis were derived. We then present results from four topic areas covered in the analysis. These are: use of medication, use of health services, difficulties with activities of daily living, and social support.