title: Coping with the crisis: people with severe mental disorders acting for social change through sustainable energy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to examine the efficacy of a vocational training program on renewable energy sources in reducing disabilities of people with chronic psychosis (CP). The innovative element was that the project could produce major advantages regarding the economic needs of the whole area involved.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental Cohort, 26 subjects with CP (EC); Control Cohort1, 130 subjects with CP following pharmacotherapy plus other rehabilitation activities (CIC); Control Cohort2, 101 subjects with CP following the usual treatment (pharmacotherapy) (CUC). Study tool: Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS). Assessment made at the start of the study (T0) and after three months (T1). Statistical analysis made by MANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Improvement in HoNOS total score in both groups (F=7.574, p=0.000) with non-significant differences between groups over time (F=1.336, p=0.252) was found comparing EC vs. CIC. Greater improvement in EC vs. CIC was shown in the HoNOS "impairment" scale (F=4.910, p=0.028). EC vs. CUC: both groups improved in HoNOS total score (F=9.440, p=0.000) but the improvement was greater in EC (F = 2.273, P=0.048).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Work inclusion, as well as other rehabilitation treatments, reduces the social needs of people with chronic psychosis. Work inclusion in a project with real relevance for the area where these people live, produces more improvement of cognitive, physical and somatic disabilities, probably related to a better outcome in self-efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine - University of Cagliari (Italy).
authors.forename: Mg
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carta
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine - University of Cagliari (Italy).
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sancassiani
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine - University of Cagliari (Italy).
authors.forename: Me
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lecca
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine - University of Cagliari (Italy).
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pintus
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine - University of Cagliari (Italy).
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pintus
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine - University of Cagliari (Italy).
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pisano
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine - University of Cagliari (Italy).
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Congiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine - University of Cagliari (Italy).
authors.forename: Mf
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.affiliation: Center for Public Mental Health, Gosing and Wagram, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Cm
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Angermeyer
keywords: Chronic Psychosis; Follow-up; HoNOS.; Rehabilitation; Work Inclusion