Psychosocial difficulties from the perspective of persons with neuropsychiatric disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to determine whether persons with neuropsychiatric disorders experience a common set of psychosocial difficulties using qualitative data from focus groups and individual interviews.


METHODS
The study was performed in five European countries (Finland, Italy, Germany, Poland and Spain) using the focus groups and individual interviews with persons with nine neuropsychiatric disorders (dementia, depression, epilepsy, migraine, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, stroke and substance dependence). Digitally recorded sessions were analysed using a step-by-step qualitative and quantitative methodology resulting in the compilation of a common set of psychosocial difficulties using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a framework.


RESULTS
Sixty-seven persons participated in the study. Most persons with neuropsychiatric disorders experience difficulties in emotional functions, sleeping, carrying out daily routine, working and interpersonal relationships in common. Sixteen out of 33 psychosocial difficulties made up the common set. This set includes mental functions, pain and issues addressing activities and participation and provides first evidence for the hypothesis of horizontal epidemiology of psychosocial difficulties in neuropsychiatric disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides information about psychosocial difficulties that should be covered in the treatment and rehabilitation of persons with neuropsychiatric disorders regardless of clinical diagnoses.


CONCLUSIONS
Emotional problems, work and sleep problems should be addressed in all the treatments of neuropsychiatric disorders regardless of their specific diagnosis, etiology and severity. Personality issues should be targeted in the treatment for neurological disorders, whereas communication skill training may also be useful for mental disorders. The effects of medication and social environment on patient's daily life should be considered in all the neuropsychiatric conditions.
a Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology - IBE, Chair for Public Health and Health Services Research, Research Unit for Biopsychosocial Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), Munich , Germany .
Michaela
M
Coenen
b Department of Psychiatry, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación del Hospital Universitario de La Princesa (IIS-IP) , Madrid , Spain .
Maria
M
Cabello
c Schön Klinik , Bad Aibling , Germany .
Silvia
S
Umlauf
b Department of Psychiatry, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación del Hospital Universitario de La Princesa (IIS-IP) , Madrid , Spain .
José Luis
JL
Ayuso-Mateos
d Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology , Warsaw , Poland .
Marta
M
Anczewska
e A-Clinic Foundation , Helsinki , Finland .
Jouni
J
Tourunen
f Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit, Neurological Institute Carlo Besta Foundation (IRCCS) , Milan , Italy .
Matilde
M
Leonardi
a Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology - IBE, Chair for Public Health and Health Services Research, Research Unit for Biopsychosocial Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), Munich , Germany .|g Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Southampton , UK , and.|h Swiss Paraplegic Research , Nottwil , Switzerland.
Alarcos
A
Cieza
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D017144:Focus Groups; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D064702:International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011044:Poland; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012890:Sleep; D012931:Social Environment; D013030:Spain; D014937:Work; D055815:Young Adult
Disability and Health; International Classification of Functioning; mental disorder; neuropsychiatric disorders