[The cost and utilization of psychotherapy in community-based mental health services. A multicentre study in five Italian areas].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of psychotherapy intervention in five Italian Centres for Mental Health. Analysing sociodemographic characteristics, geographical differences, frequencies of psychotherapy interventions, and the costs of these interventions.


METHODS
Five Italian Community-based Psychiatric Services collected data from 1250 patients during October 2002. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and GAF scores were collected at baseline. All psychiatric contacts during the following six months were recorded and categorised into 24 service contact categories. A comparison between patients who received or did not receive psychotherapy was made.


RESULTS
The socio-demographic characteristics of patients are very similar to those found in previous studies; there is a great difference in the number of psychotherapy treatments between the five areas. Psychotherapy patients use different services compared to the other patients, and their care cost less.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides a description of the provision of psychotherapy by Italian Mental Health Services. Further research is required into this topic.
Chiappelli
Marco
M
Dipartimento di Salute Mentale AUSL Bologna, Viale Carlo Pepoli 5, 40100 Bologna. marco.chiappelli@ausl.bologna.it
Grigoletti
Laura
L
Albanese
Paolo
P
Taras
Maria Antonietta
MA
Tulli
Paola
P
Grassi
Aldrigo
A
D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*