ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore general practitioners' (GPs) knowledge of the symptoms and epidemiology of schizophrenia, and the GPs' characteristics associated with level of knowledge. METHOD: Survey questionnaires exploring practice in patients with early psychosis were mailed to all GPs in South-Western France (N=3829). GPs were asked to fill out questions anonymously on the symptoms and epidemiology of schizophrenia. RESULTS: The response rate was 23.6%. GPs had a fair theoretical knowledge of schizophrenia symptoms, but underestimated the prevalence and the risk of suicide. Recent attendance at a continuing medical education (CME) course on schizophrenia was the main predictor of level of knowledge on epidemiological figures, although its impact was relatively modest. Regarding risk factors, the implication of genetic factors was considered as null or modest by more than half of the GPs, while a large proportion of them stated that mother-baby interactional disturbances were frequently implicated in the aetiology of the disorder. CONCLUSION: GPs' level of knowledge on the public health impact and risk factors for schizophrenia needs to be improved in order to promote the delivery of accurate and de-stigmatising information to primary care patients.
Subject(s)
Data Collection/statistics & numerical data , Family Practice/statistics & numerical data , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Schizophrenia/diagnosis , Schizophrenia/epidemiology , Schizophrenic Psychology , Adult , Aged , Data Collection/methods , Family Practice/methods , Female , France , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Risk Factors , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to explore how general practitioners (GPs) manage subjects with early psychosis and collaborate with psychiatrists in the care of such patients. METHODS: Survey questionnaires exploring practice in patients with early psychosis were mailed to all GPs in South-Western France (n=3,829). RESULTS: The response rate was 23.6%. Half of GPs responding to the survey had actually diagnosed a possible case of schizophrenia during the previous year. In such cases, the most frequent decision was to refer the patient to a psychiatrist, despite the difficulties of convincing the patient and obtaining a rapid referral. According to GPs' answers, the relationships between primary care and the mental health team were characterised by a lack of communication: less than one out of three GPs had regular contact with a mental health team, and a large majority reported that they never or rarely had information about the diagnosis and treatment of subjects referred for early schizophrenia. Having regular contacts with mental health services had a major impact on GPs' management of subjects with early schizophrenia, in particular on reducing delays to obtain a psychiatric consultation and on level of information on diagnosis and treatment after referral. CONCLUSION: Promotion of networking between primary care and mental health services is required to reduce delayed access to care in subjects with early schizophrenia.
