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Benefits and difficulties in implementing family psychoeducational interventions for schizophrenia in mental health services: results from a multicentre Italian study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2011

Lorenza Magliano*
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Università di Napoli SUN, Napoli
Andrea Fiorillo
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Università di Napoli SUN, Napoli
Claudio Malangone
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Università di Napoli SUN, Napoli
Corrado De Rosa
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Università di Napoli SUN, Napoli
Grazia Favata
Affiliation:
Centra di Salute Mentale di Torino
Annarita Sasso
Affiliation:
Centra di Salute Mentale di Torino
Monica Prezioso
Affiliation:
Milano
Laura Pezzenati
Affiliation:
Milano
Floralba Gentile
Affiliation:
La Spezia
Lucetta Casale
Affiliation:
La Spezia
Emi Bondi
Affiliation:
Bormio
Giuseppina Robustelli Test
Affiliation:
Bormio
Michele Di Lella
Affiliation:
Tortona
Elisabetta Biscussi
Affiliation:
Tortona
Francesco Degl'Innocenti
Affiliation:
Firenze
Rossella Bellini
Affiliation:
Firenze
Rita Di Nunzio
Affiliation:
Foggia
Lucia Matrella
Affiliation:
Foggia
Rosa Salmeri
Affiliation:
Catania
Rosario Cantone
Affiliation:
Catania
Luisa Gargiulo
Affiliation:
Sorrento
Aniello Esposito
Affiliation:
Sorrento
Vincenzo Delcuratolo
Affiliation:
Barletta
Maria Giannini
Affiliation:
Barletta
Luisa Maresca
Affiliation:
Angri
Giovanna Cavaliere
Affiliation:
Angri
Barbara Scandone
Affiliation:
Settimo Torinese
Matteo Folla
Affiliation:
Settimo Torinese
Mauro Raffaeli
Affiliation:
Roma
Paola Innocente
Affiliation:
Roma
Flavia Dagianti
Affiliation:
Roma
Stefania Lucania
Affiliation:
Vetralla
Angela Scorsino
Affiliation:
Vetralla
Francesco Bardicchia
Affiliation:
Castel del Piano
Gennaro Cerullo
Affiliation:
Castel del Piano
Riccardo Curreli
Affiliation:
Oristano
Silvana Miscali
Affiliation:
Oristano
Mario Scordato
Affiliation:
Pace del Mela (ME)
Graziella Campo
Affiliation:
Pace del Mela (ME)
Cinzia Mameli
Affiliation:
Lanusei
Carla Sodde
Affiliation:
Lanusei
Luigi D'Ambra
Affiliation:
Livorno
Anna Malacarne
Affiliation:
Livorno
Mario Maj
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Università di Napoli SUN, Napoli
Gruppo Di Lavoro
Affiliation:
Gruppo di Lavoro: C. Avino e F. Rossano (Napoli), M. Traina (Torino), M. Federici (La Spezia), A. Martinazzoli e L. Battini (Abbiategrasso), G. Torti e G. Pietracci (Fermo), G. D'Avossa e E. Coppotelli (Ferentino).
*
Address for correspondence: Prof. L. Magliano, Istituto di Psichiatria, Università di Napoli SUN, Largo Madonna delle Grazie, 80138 Napoli, Fax +39-81-5666.523 E-mail: Iorenza.magliano@unina2.it

Summary

Aims – This study aims to explore: a) the feasibility of psycho-educational interventions for families of users with schizophrenia in clinical practice by trained staff; b) the benefits and problems encountered by professionals in the use of these interventions. Methods – 46 professionals from 23 Italian Mental Health Sen'ices (MHS) attended at a three-module training course in psycho-educational interventions and four supervisions in the subsequent year. Following the course, participants provided the intervention to families of users with schizophrenia. The difficulties and benefits encountered by trainees to use the intervention were registered on the Family Intervention Schedule.Results – 83% of the participants completed the training course. Following the course, the intervention started in 71 families from 17 MHS. 76% of trainees provided the intervention to 2-5 families, while 13% of them only held informative sessions on schizophrenia. During the supervision period, the organisational difficulties experienced by the professionals were stable, while the benefits increased. Differences in benefits and difficulties were detected in relation to the trainees’ experience and professional roles. Conclusions – It is possible to introduce psycho-educational interventions in MHS after a relatively brief period of training and supervision of the staff. Organisational difficulties need to be addressed to increase the dissemination of these interventions on a large scale.

Declaration of Interest: None of the authors has had any interest or he/she has received any form of support, including that from drug companies and honoraria for lectures and consultancies, potentially in conflict with this scientific work. None of the authors has received any form of fee for his/her participation in this study. This study was supported by grants received from the “M. Lugli” Foundation (grant n. 2/18/8) and from the National Institute of Health, Italy (grant no. 1AL/F3).

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

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