Attitudes of Mental Health Workers Towards Early Interventions in Psychiatry: A National Survey.
Early intervention (EI) is an effective strategy to improve outcomes of psychiatric disorders, but there is little evidence on mental health professionals' opinions on this approach. Hence, during conferences on this topic, we surveyed participants on the benefits, aims, and barriers to implementation of EI. Participants reported that the most important outcomes of EI were decreasing the risk of long-term social consequences, of severe psychopathological conditions, and chronicization. EI would primarily need to be implemented in the care of psychotic, eating, and mood disorders, whereas the main barriers to EI implementation were the lack of funding and of a prevention-oriented culture. Although these results might be biased by a generic attitude favoring EI, participants showed a very positive attitude towards EI and stated the need of a culture shift towards a more prevention-oriented model in a mental health setting.
*Department of Neuroscience, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Infant-Maternal Science, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Genoa; and †Department of Mental Health, Center for Early Detection and Intervention in Psychosis-Programma 2000, Niguarda Ca'Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Lucio
L
Ghio
Matteo
M
Respino
Martino
M
Belvederi Murri
Angelo
A
Cocchi
Anna
A
Meneghelli
Mario
M
Amore
Werner
W
Natta
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D061345:Early Medical Intervention; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires