title: Reactions to acute psychotic symptoms in a rural community.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recognition of psychotic disorders constitutes a challenge to the population and health and social care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the reactions of the general population, professionals in the health and social services, and local politicians in light of the symptoms of a patient evincing acute psychotic mental symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A postal questionnaire study was conducted in the rural Suupohja area in Finland. Three target groups: a randomized sample of residents aged 15-84 years (n = 1200), local social and healthcare personnel (n = 463) and politicians (n = 148) responded to alternatives in identifying the need and urgency of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-six per cent of residents, 85% of politicians and 87% of health and social employees recognized that the patient was in need of urgent support and treatment. A significant positive association was found in the resident cohort between recognizing urgent need for support and female gender. Forty-eight per cent of inhabitants, 69% of social and healthcare staff, and 65% of politicians estimated that appropriate care and access to care would be obtained in the acute outpatient care of the health centre.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost one quarter of residents were not aware of the patient's urgent need for acute mental healthcare. It is a challenge to promote the knowledge and sensitivity of the population in recognizing mental and psychotic symptoms. Also appropriate information is called for regarding local services and how to access the care.
authors.affiliation: Kirsti Kähärä, M.D., Medical Director, Kauhajoki Health Centre , Prännärintie 8, 61800 Kauhajoki , Finland.
authors.forename: Kirsti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kähärä
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tulisalo
authors.forename: Juhani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grönlund
authors.forename: Kari J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Mattila
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D011057:Politics; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires