Prevalence of mental disorders in a Greek island.

In Greece, the need for epidemiological data became evident at the beginning of the mental health reform during 1983 with the emergence of the necessity to develop community-based mental health services. This survey was conducted in 2005 by the Association for Regional Development and Mental Health (EPAPSY), supported by the local authorities. It followed the methodology of the survey "Mental Health in the General Population: Images and Realities" (MHGP), a large scale multisite epidemiological research conducted by the World Health Organization Collaborative Centre of Lille in France and other countries. The aim of this study was to assess prevalence, sociodemographic and comorbidity patterns of mental disorders in the general adult population of Evia Island, Greece. This was a cross-sectional survey investigating point, period and lifetime prevalence of mental disorders. The target population was the non-institutionalized adult population of island of Evia (population 230,000 people). The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and a sociodemographic data questionnaire were administered by trained interviewers to 900 residents of Evia. The quota sampling method was used to obtain a sample representative of the target population. Lifetime prevalence of any disorder, as identified by the MINI, was 29%. The prevalence of depression was high, with 17.5% of women and 14.6% of men currently meeting the criteria for diagnosis. Affective and anxiety disorders were found to be more frequent in women than men, except for dysthymia, social phobia and post-traumatic stress disorder which were slightly more frequent in men. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Evia was much higher than the prevalence found by other epidemiological studies in Greece and among the highest in Southern Europe. The high prevalence of mental disorders found in Evia means that almost one third of the population will suffer from a clinically significant disorder in their lifetime. Therefore, the resulting social burden is very relevant and requires the inclusion of mental health care among the main goals of a public health strategy. Methodological issues concerning the comparison of results between different countries, the limitations of the study and the rates of alcohol use disorders discussed. High rates of mental disorders are related to demographic changes, such as the increasing are size of elderly population, and probably to economic hardship and rise in unemployment. Results should be taken into consideration for the planning and development of interventions for vulnerable groups.

[Frame of internal functioning and innovative practices in a Day Center for psychotics].

The Day Center (DC) of EPAPSI (Scientific Association for Regional Development and Mental Health) offers complete psycho-social interventions for the psyhotic patients of the 5th Psychiatric Sector, in order to prevent them from relapsing, helps reduce hospitalisation and also works towards psychological and vocational rehabilitation; always aiming at improving the quality of patients' life. Working towards the continuum of care of its patients, the DC applies innovative practises such as: the creation of a community-based supportive network, the running of social clubs, participation in European Programmes concerning the social and vocational rehabilitation of patients, creation of KoiSPE (Limited Liability Social Co-operatives) in co-operation with the Local Authorities, application of new methods of caring and curing, involving the patients in co-running the "therapeutic contract". The successful application of "community psychiatry" and the continuation of psychiatric reform will be accommodated with the contribution and co-operation of "communal" services and the wider public sector as well as the application of new and pioneering programmes.

[An individualized behavioral approach in psychosocial rehabilitation].

The deinstitutionalization of chronic mental health patients and the simultaneous growth of community mental health structures were elected as central objectives of interventions, based on the concept of psychosocial rehabilitation. The main axes of this ef fort were maximization of the individual's potential and minimization of the long-term hospitalizations' negative consequences. The individualized approach via the application of an individual therapeutic program and the simultaneous evaluation of patients' needs and course during their stay in community residential home structures of psychiatric care constitute the basic condition for the achievement of therapeutic goals of rehabilitation, guarantee of the quality of services provided and continuity of care. The article is completed with the quotation of thoughts and proposals in connection with current approaches concerning the sector of social psychiatry, which everybody has to take into careful consideration in order to do the individual therapeutic program more effective being a powerful tool that helps therapists to draw satisfaction and pleasure from their work and helps patients to become active members of a democratic society.

[Study of mortality under 30 years of age in families of psychotic patients]. / Etude de la mortalité avant 30 ans dans les familles de psychotiques.

After O. Bourguignon's studies (1984), the authors made the following assumption: there is an higher mortality rate before 30 years in families including at least one psychotic. This assumption is confirmed, as far as brothers, sisters and children are concerned, for 101 psychotics compared to 101 control-subjects. This higher death-rate in young subjects is associated in these psychotics' families with greater psychiatric morbidity, with higher rates of celibacy and break-ups of couples. It is the opinion of the authors that these phenomena should be interpreted as portent of a possible extinction of the lineage.