1,720,994 research outputs found
Burden on key relatives of patients with schizophrenia vs neurotic disorders: a pilot study
No full textThe burden perceived by the key relatives of 27 schizophrenics and 19 patients with neurotic disorders, both with at least a minimal degree of personal/social disability and a current exacerbation of symptoms, was assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. Only modest quantitative and qualitative differences between the two samples of key relatives were found. The burden perceived by the relatives of schizophrenics was more closely related to the patients' personal/social disability than that reported by the relatives of neurotic patients. The psychopathological features of schizophrenic patients that were perceived as the most burdensome were "negative" symptoms, whereas the burden reported by the relatives of neurotic patients was predominantly related to obsessive/compulsive and anxiety symptoms
Prevalence of mental disorders in Sardinia: A community study in an inland mining district
No full textUsing standardized interviews 374 subjects randomly selected among people living in two villages in a mining district in Sardinia (Italy), were studied. Of these, 57 subjects (15.2%) were identified as 'cases'. Ten per cent of the sample was affected by a depressive syndrome and 4% by an anxiety disorder. Females were significantly more at risk for anxiety disorders, while a trend towards a major risk for depression emerged among middle-aged and elderly people. Of the sample 9.8% were taking benzodiazepines, with a significant over representation of females. Depressed subjects took benzodiazepines more frequently than anxious subjects, while the use of antidepressants was negligible
Development, reliability and acceptability of a new version of the DSM-IV Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) to assess routine social functioning
No full textOBJECTIVE:
Development of a scale to assess patients' social functioning, the Personal and Social Performance scale (PSP).
METHOD:
PSP has been developed through focus groups and reliability studies on the basis of the social functioning component of the DSM-IV Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS). The last reliability study was carried out by 39 workers with different professional roles on a sample of 61 psychiatric patients admitted to the rehabilitation unit. Each patient was rated independently on the scale by the two workers who knew them best.
RESULTS:
The PSP is a 100-point single-item rating scale, subdivided into 10 equal intervals. The ratings are based mainly on the assessment of patient's functioning in four main areas: 1) socially useful activities; 2) personal and social relationships; 3) self-care; and 4) disturbing and aggressive behaviours. Operational criteria to rate the levels of disabilities have been defined for the above-mentioned areas. Excellent inter-rater reliability was also obtained in less educated workers.
CONCLUSION:
Compared to SOFAS, PSP has better face validity and psychometric properties. It was found to be an acceptable, quick and valid measure of patients' personal and social functioning
Severely and persistently mentally ill patients in Italy: an overview of epidemiological and psychosocial findings
No full textThe aim of this paper is to provide an overview of epidemiological, clinical and psychosocial characteristics of patients needing long-term treatment. The data concerned the following aspects: prevalence and incidence from the five best-established Italian psychiatric case registers; needs for care; psychosocial and clinical outcome as assessed by means of follow-up studies; social disability and relatives' perceived burden. The one-year prevalence rate of "long-term users" is consistent in Northern Italy, higher in Middle Italy and lower in Southern Italy. The incidence rate was found to be around 4 per 100,000. Even in a community oriented mental health service, users' needs for care are only partially met. A good psychosocial outcome was found associated with the use of social and/or vocational skills training, while the average number of days per year of hospitalization in a psychiatric department was found associated with poor outcome. A moderate degree of social disability was found among patients needing long-term treatment. The resulting family burden presented to a marked or very marked degree in more than 50% of the relatives
La valutazione della dimissibilità dei pazienti cronici: l'utilizzo della Level of Care Survey
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