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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

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01-06-2006 | ORIGINAL PAPER

Severe and persistent mental illness: a useful definition for prioritizing community-based mental health service interventions

Authors: Alberto Parabiaghi, MD, Chiara Bonetto, Dr. Stat, Mirella Ruggeri, PhD, Antonio Lasalvia, PhD, Morven Leese, PhD

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 6/2006

Abstract

Objective

There is a lack of consensus on the identification of seriously mentally ill patients (SMI). This study investigates the external and predictive validity of an operationalized definition for the severity and persistency of mental illness applied to a sample of service users attending a community mental health service.

Method

The definition is based on the fulfilment of dysfunction (GAF ≤ 50) and illness duration (≥2 yrs) criteria. The study was conducted with a two-year longitudinal design. External and predictive validity of the SMI definition were assessed against the diagnosis of psychosis.

Results

Our data show evidence for an overall high predictive and external validity of the SMI definition and high sensitivity in predicting those with high burden of mental illness.

Conclusions

In order to identify people with high levels of psychiatric burden, the SMI working definition seems to be more useful than that simply based on diagnostic criteria.

Schizophrenia and functional psychoses includes the following ICD-10 codes: F20, F21, F22, F23, F24, F25, F28, F29, F84; Severe affective disorders includes the following ICD-10 codes: F30, F31, F32.2, F33.3.

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Title: Severe and persistent mental illness: a useful definition for prioritizing community-based mental health service interventions
Authors: Alberto Parabiaghi, MD
Chiara Bonetto, Dr. Stat
Mirella Ruggeri, PhD
Antonio Lasalvia, PhD
Morven Leese, PhD
Publication date: 01-06-2006
Publisher: Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 6/2006
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0048-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Severe and persistent mental illness: a useful definition for prioritizing community-based mental health service interventions

Abstract

Objective

Method

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Method

Results

Conclusions

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