title: Severely and persistently mentally ill patients in Italy: an overview of epidemiological and psychosocial findings.
abstract: The 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.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Institute, First Medical School, University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Veltro
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Magliano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lobrace
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Morosini
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000639:trends*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012931:Social Environment