title: Evaluation of secondary school teachers' knowledge about psychosis: a contribution to early detection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to evaluate secondary school teachers' knowledge about psychosis and their level of interest in this topic given the key role they may be able to play in the early detection of psychosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire survey of 268 secondary school teachers from eight secondary schools within the Azienda Sanitaria Locale Rome/E and Rome/A catchment areas (two of the five city health districts) in Rome. Teachers were asked to complete the Italian version Esperienza e Conoscenza delle Difficoltò Sociali ed Emotive dei Giovani of the Knowledge and Experience of Social Emotional Difficulties among Young people self-report questionnaire that investigates the diagnosis, age of onset, aetiology, prognosis and treatment of psychosis. They were also asked about their experience with pupils with possible psychosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of teachers were able to recognize psychotic symptoms from a case vignette. Approximately 25% of the teachers had experienced a pupil with possible symptoms of psychosis. However, teachers displayed little awareness of psychiatric community services available for young people.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that teachers may play an important role in early detection and psychosis prevention strategies. The teachers also displayed a keen interest in gaining a deeper knowledge of early psychotic signs and in cooperating closely with a mental health specialist to obtain guidance and support when faced with serious mentally ill pupils.
authors.affiliation: NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Functions), Sapienza University of Rome, 2nd Medical School, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy. alice.masillo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masillo
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monducci
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pucci
authors.forename: Ludovica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Telesforo
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carlotto
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forte
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonaccorsi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fiori Nastro
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Girardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012384:Rome; D012574:Schools