Showing papers by "Andrea Fiorillo published in 2004"
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TL;DR: The results suggest that the general public needs to be better informed about schizophrenia's main characteristics, available treatments, and risk for dangerous behaviours.
Abstract: Results: Of those surveyed, 34% of the lay respondents, 20% of the professionals, and 68% of the relatives stated that schizophrenia is exclusively caused by psychosocial factors. Lay respondents’ opinions on patients’ civil rights and social competence tended to be more similar to those expressed by professionals then to those reported by relatives. Lay respondents differed from the other 2 groups in their beliefs regarding the effectiveness of psychological treatments, patients’ unpredictability, and whether patients should be admitted to asylums. Conclusions: These results suggest that the general public needs to be better informed about schizophrenia’s main characteristics, available treatments, and risk for dangerous behaviours. The existing gap among the study’s target populations could be reduced through campaigns aimed at increasing public awareness of the affective and civil rights of patients. (Can J Psychiatry 2004;49:323–331) Information on funding and support and author affiliations appears at the end of the article.
164 citations
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TL;DR: The factors most frequently mentioned by psychiatrists and nurses among the causes of schizophrenia were heredity, stress and family conflicts, while those most frequently mentioning by relatives were stress, traumas and love breakdown.
Abstract: Background: What patients’ relatives and health professionals think about causes, treatments and psychosocial consequences of schizophrenia can influence its detection and outcome.Aims: To compare the beliefs about schizophrenia in 190 nurses, 110 psychiatrists and 709 relatives of patients with this mental disorder, recruited in 30 randomly selected mental health centres.Methods: In each centre, the key-relatives of the first consecutive 25 subjects with schizophrenia, and the nurses and psychiatrists who had been working in the service for at least one year, were asked to complete the Questionnaire on the Opinions about Mental Illness (QO).Results: The factors most frequently mentioned by psychiatrists and nurses among the causes of schizophrenia were heredity, stress and family conflicts, while those most frequently mentioned by relatives were stress, traumas and love breakdown. Nurses had opinions: (a) similar to those expressed by psychiatrists concerning patients’ ability to work equally as other pe...
44 citations
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TL;DR: The need to inform the general public on the main clinical characteristics of schizophrenia and on the risk of unpredictable behaviours in the acute phases of this mental disorder and carry out sensitisation campaigns against discrimination toward people with schizophrenia emphasising successful experiences of social integration is suggested.
Abstract: The belief that mental disorders involve a high risk of
unpredictable behaviours is a factor which influences negatively
the social acceptance of the mentally ill. In this paper, we
compare the beliefs about the causes and psychosocial
consequences of schizophrenia expressed by 536 respondents who
had the firm conviction that patients with schizophrenia are
unpredictable and by 457 respondents who firmly believed that
they are not. The survey was conducted in 30 Italian geographic areas,
randomly selected taking into account their location and
population density. The data were collected by the Questionnaire
about Opinions on Mental Illness (QO). Respondents who believed that patients with schizophrenia
are unpredictable reported more frequently factors such as use
of alcohol and drugs and frequenting bad company as being
involved in the development of the disorder. In addition, this
group showed more restrictive opinions about patients’ civil and
affective rights. Low education was found to be significantly
associated with perception of “unpredictability” in
schizophrenia. These results suggest the need to: a) inform the general
public on the main clinical characteristics of schizophrenia and
on the risk of unpredictable behaviours in the acute phases of
this mental disorder; b) carry out sensitisation campaigns
against discrimination toward people with schizophrenia
emphasising successful experiences of social integration.
37 citations
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TL;DR: The consistent percentage of patients receiving polypharmacy and neuroleptics outside the therapeutic doses highlights the need to promote interventions aimed at increasing a rational use of psychotropic drugs among mental health professionals.
Abstract: Objectives
This study aims to: (a) describe the type and doses of psychotropic drugs received by outpatients with schizophrenia in Italy; (b) explore the relationship between prescription and patients’ clinical conditions, disability and socio-demographic characteristics; and (c) estimate the percentage of patients receiving polypharmacy and antipsychotics within the official recommended ranges.
32 citations
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TL;DR: Burden was more marked in relatives of patients with higher physical disabilities, with neurological illnesses, and in relatives with lower support by their social network, highlighting the need to provide psychological and practical support to caregivers of Patients with long-term physical diseases on the basis of the evaluation of their needs for care.
Abstract: Aims – To describe in a sample of 646 relatives of patients with physical long-term illnesses: a) the relatives' burden of care; b) the relatives' attitudes towards the patients; c) the social and professional support received by the families. Methods – The study has been carried out in 30 Italian geographic areas randomly selected taking into account geographic location and population density. The sample has been consecutively recruited in 139 specialised units for the treatment of chronic heart, brain, diabetes, kidney, and lung diseases. Family burden was evaluated in relation to: a) family's socio-demographic variables and patients' clinical variables; b) relatives' attitudes toward the patient; c) social and professional support; d) geographic area and population density. Outcome measures – Family Problems Questionnaire, physical illness version (QPF-O) and Social Network Questionnaire (QRS). Results – The consequences of caregiving most frequently reported were constraints in social and recreational activities, and feelings of loss. Burden was more marked in relatives of patients with higher physical disabilities, with neurological illnesses, and in relatives with lower support by their social network. Conclusions – These data highlight the need to provide psychological and practical support to caregivers of patients with long-term physical diseases on the basis of the evaluation of their needs for care.Declaration of Interest: none of the five authors has had any interest or received any form of support, including that from drug companies and honoraria for lectures and consultancies, potentially in conflict with this scientific work, in the last 2 years.
6 citations