Needs of Young People with Schizophrenia/Psychosis and their Caregivers: a Large Scale Survey
Poster C35, Saturday, October 22, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Le Baron
Jordi Cid1, Guillermo Lahera2, Ana Gonzalez-Pinto3, Ana Cabrera4, Inés González5, Eduard Vieta6, Celso Arango7, Benedicto Crespo-Facorro8; 1Girona Institute of Health Assistance, 2University of Alcalá. IRyCIS, CIBERSAM, 3Álava University Hospital, CIBERSAM, 4Madrid Association of Friends and Relatives of People with Schizophrenia, 5Spanish Mental Health Confederation, 6Institut of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, CIBERSAM, 7Gregorio Marañón University Hospital, Complutense University of Madrid, IiSGM, CIBERSAM, 8Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, University of Cantabria, CIBERSAM
For the first time in Spain, a large scale survey (5,205 people) was carried out to establish the real needs of those directly affected by the illness. Of the total of persons surveyed, 30.1% were patients less than 35 years old, responding to a 9 question survey concerning dimensions: personal, social, medical treatment, psychotherapy, rehabilitation. For patients, the most important need (an average score of 3.5 on a scale of importance from 1 to 4) was to feel their emotional needs covered. The following average scores were also obtained: feel well physically (3.2), improve autonomy (3.2) work/study (3.2) and have leisure activities (3.1). 55% of young patients indicated having little or no freedom over their lives. 34.2% indicated that medical treatment did not start soon enough, 29% that psychotherapy started too late and 8.9% saying they had received no psychotherapy at all. The help from professionals most valued was provide information about the illness (3.4), dedicating more time (3.4) investigating new treatments (3.3) paying attention to secondary effects (3.3) and incorporating the patient in decision making (3.3). Most young patients reported a state of health “regular to good” but 10.2% indicated not being understood at all in their social environment since onset of illness and 22.5% being little understood. The anti-stigma initiative most valued was to increase investment in schizophrenia in Health Planning. Integral health planning should incorporate patient insights concerning basic needs and treatment preferences.
Topic Area: Service System Development and Reform