EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PSYCHIATRIC-CARE OF PATIENTS WITH SEVERE MENTAL-DISORDERS IN ITALY - RATIONALE AND DESIGN OF A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY, AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COHORT

The rationale and design of a large, multicentre, prospective follow-u p study on the outcome of severe mental disorders is presented, The st udy is currently under way in Italy, where psychiatric care has been u niquely characterised since 1978 by the statutory prohibition of admit ting patients to psychiatric hospitals. The main purpose of the study is to describe the Si-year outcome of patients with a diagnosis of sch izophrenia, paranoid disorder, affective psychosis, reactive psychosis or personality disorder with respect to five areas (clinical conditio n, personal autonomy, work, and family and social relationships); a se condary objective is to describe the heterogeneity of practices and re sources of psychiatric services. The study is being carried out by 76 outpatient psychiatric services throughout the country, covering appro ximately one-tenth of the Italian population.