title: Oral Health Status and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Italian Deinstitutionalized Psychiatric Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to investigate the oral health status and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL, measured with OHIP- 14) in psychiatric patients assisted by the unique Italian mental health care system, in accordance to regulatory Law 180/78.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic and medical variables were retrieved from institutional medical records. General health and oral health variables, oral health-related behavior and last dental contact were recorded. Clinical evaluation was performed on each patient. For oral health data collection, a standardized medical form was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study involved an overall number of 67 patients. Primary diagnosis of mental illness was at mean age of 29 years. The average number of teeth per patient was 25.45 ±6,55. The overall mean value of caries experience was 9.1 decayed, missing and/or filled teeth (DMFT Index). Among affected patients (60%, n=33) the mean value of DMFT for all age groups was 11.3 (range 2-27). The present study highlighted a direct linear relationship between caries experience and OHRQoL. As the caries level increased, pain, functional and psychological discomfort scores increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall caries experience value of 9.1 DMFT was lower than that reported in existing literature, which is usually related to traditionally institutionalized psychiatric patients, and most important of all, data on access to dental care is fairly good. These results, although derived from a pilot study on a limited sample, suggest that, where a psychosocial rehabilitative program is set out for psychiatric patients, as in the case of the Italian experience, the program can also determine an improvement in oral health status. It is important that programs for oral health promotion are developed in collaboration with mental health services and social measures are patient-centered as an integral part of the individual's rehabilitation program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corridore
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Responsible Psychologist UOS CD e Residential DSM ASL RM A.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Marra
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Thiene
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ottolenghi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Basaglia Law; Oral Health-Related Quality of Life; Oral health status; Psychiatric patients