Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki最新文献

{"title":"\"A healthy mind in a healthy body\": The challenges of physical health in first episode psychosis.","authors":"Evangelos Ntouros, Stefanos Dimitrakopoulos, Venetsanos Mavreas, Vasilios-Panteleimon Bozikas","doi":"10.22365/jpsych.2026.001","DOIUrl":"10.22365/jpsych.2026.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Individuals suffering from psychotic disorders have increased comorbidity with chronic organic disorders and reduced life expectancy compared to their healthy peers. Particularly, individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia have a life expectancy 10-20 years shorter than average.1 The main factor contributing to this increased comorbidity and mortality from natural causes is cardiovascular diseases resulting from higher rates of metabolic syndrome (MetS), obesity, diabetes mellitus, sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, and smoking.2 MetS, specifically, is defined by the coexistence of a combination of risk factors such as high blood pressure, high blood glucose levels, excessive fat around the waist, high levels of triglycerides, and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). These aggravating factors occur more frequently in individuals with psychosis than in control groups from the very onset of symptoms. For example, the prevalence of MetS was found to be 13.2% higher than in the general population in patients who had never taken antipsychotic drugs and presented with first episode psychosis (FEP).3 Similarly, blood pressure, waist circumference, and fasting glucose have been reported to be slightly higher in antipsychotic-naive ultra high risk (UHR) individuals, while lower HDL levels have been demonstrated in FEP adolescents who have never taken medication.4 Moreover, initiating treatment with second-generation antipsychotics is associated with rapid and significant weight gain, depending on the specific drug, within the first three months of treatment.5 This indicates that between 33% and 61% of individuals with FEP experience clinically significant weight gain, defined as an increase of ≥7% of initial body weight within the first 12 weeks of treatment, and certain parameters of MetS progressively deteriorate over the first year of treatment.6,7 The above findings have prompted the implementation of various interventions, both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical, in individuals with FEP, aiming at reducing the burden associated with antipsychotic use, which remains the therapeutic standard despite its side-effect profile. These interventions are extended beyond medication-related adverse effects and target other parameters that increase cardiometabolic risk, such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, tobacco and alcohol use, and inadequate physical care.8 The effectiveness of these interventions varies, but combining them and implementing them in an organized framework with a holistic approach appears to be the optimal choice. In Greece, this type of comprehensive care is delivered through Early Intervention Services (EIP), where the physical health of patients with FEP is prioritized as a core treatment objective. This is achieved through detailed and systematic recording of medical data, monitoring the key parameters in accordance with international guidelines, and collaborating with primary care services. International guidelines s","PeriodicalId":20741,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki","volume":"37 1","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148369655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Attachment in adolescence, intergenerational transmission, developmental outcomes and psychopathology.","authors":"Varvara Salavou, Georgios Giannakopoulos","doi":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.020","DOIUrl":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adolescence (12 to 18 years) represents a critical period of development, wherein attachment undergoes significant changes as individuals navigate new emotional, cognitive, and social challenges and tend to create deeper connections with peers. Αs adolescents seek greater autonomy while simultaneously maintaining bonds with caregivers, attachment studies explore how the attachment system evolves and the factors that have an impact on it. First, we present an overview of several dimensions of attachment in adolescence, like re-organization of internal working models, peer relations, affect regulation, stability, and change of attachment. In addition, we process key points in measures used for attachment in adolescence, self-report and interview-based instruments, reflecting upon the difficulties in capturing the attachment dynamics in this developmental phase. Second, we explore findings about the ways parental state of mind (secure-insecure and unresolved), as well as parental reflective functioning, may influence adolescent attachment via mechanisms of intergenerational transmission. We focus especially on findings from clinical and high-risk samples. Third, we explore the impact that attachment in adolescence has on developmental outcomes and psychopathology. The review focuses on findings from Western culture cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, both on community and clinical samples over the last thirty years (1995-2025). We include studies using only attachment constructs (i.e., excluding parental bonding) and exclude studies on adolescent mothers, adopted adolescents, and case studies. Finally, we reach conclusions in relation to recent developments in the field and future research directions.</p>","PeriodicalId":20741,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki","volume":" ","pages":"44-50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144822379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Similar cost-better results: the case of the hybrid Assertive Community Treatment model of care for severely mentally ill patients in rural Greece.","authors":"Fotini Tsoli, Ioanna Athina Botsari, Nefeli Menti, Panagiota Kontoudi, Aikaterini Pouliasi, Vaios Peritogiannis","doi":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.022","DOIUrl":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.022","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The present study evaluated the impact of a hybrid Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model of care on the direct medical costs of treating severe mental illness (SMI) patients in rural Greece. The study aimed to determine whether this model resulted in significant cost differences compared to usual treatment while also assessing its cost-effectiveness based on clinical improvements. A total of 23 patients with SMI and multiple hospitalizations were followed up for 16 months under the hybrid ACT model. Direct medical costs were estimated using previously published Greek data on schizophrenia treatment costs. Cost differences before and after the implementation of the hybrid ACT model were calculated, and cost-effectiveness was assessed using the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER), which reflects the cost per unit increase in Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores. There was no statistically significant difference in direct medical costs between usual care (310,029€) and hybrid ACT care (313,896€), with a small cost increase of 3,867€ (p = 0.077). However, hybrid ACT care significantly reduced hospitalizations and length of inpatient stay, leading to an 86.9% reduction in total inpatient days. Clinical improvements were also observed, with GAF scores increasing from 40.43 to 47.26. Cost-effectiveness analysis demonstrated a particularly low ICER of 25.9€ per GAF point gained, suggesting a cost-efficient intervention. In an alternative scenario, the 2024 pricing was estimated with the use of the Consumer Price Index. In this case, the hybrid ACT care appeared to be significantly cost-saving by 25.5%. A rough estimation of indirect costs revealed further cost savings in favor of the hybrid ACT. The hybrid ACT model proved to be cost-effective due to its strong impact on reducing inpatient care and improving patient functioning. These findings align with international studies demonstrating the economic and clinical benefits of community-based mental health care. Future research should focus on larger, multicenter studies to confirm cost-effectiveness and explore the impact on indirect costs, such as caregiver burden and law enforcement involvement. The results support further investment in hybrid ACT services in rural Greece to enhance mental health care delivery in low-resourced settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":20741,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki","volume":" ","pages":"51-55"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144822375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Complications of capsulotomy in the treatment of psychiatric illness: A systematic review.","authors":"Ioannis N Mavridis, Efstratios-Stylianos Pyrgelis","doi":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.017","DOIUrl":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>For more than half a century, stereotactic neurosurgical procedures have been available in the treatment of patients with severe, debilitating symptoms of treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Such surgical interventions include stimulation and lesioning techniques. Capsulotomy is a lesioning procedure targeting the internal capsule. This systematic review aims to explore the safety profile of capsulotomy in the treatment of severe medically-refractory psychiatric illness, focusing on its complications. Methodologically, a literature search was conducted using the terms \"psychiatric\", \"capsulotomy\", and \"complications\" in the PubMed/Medline database until the end of 2022. The search retrieved 41 articles. Following screening for potential suitability, 39 articles relevant to the topic were further analyzed and finally used for this review. No specific assessment tool for risk of bias was used in this study. The vast majority of capsulotomy data in the literature comes from OCD patients, and the main modalities used for this procedure are radiofrequency (RF) ablation, Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS), and magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS). Postoperative complications are usually transient. These include neurological and psychiatric manifestations, cerebrovascular accidents, thromboembolic events, and infections (respiratory, urinary). Common complications are headache, focal edema, and frontal syndrome. Other complications include ataxia, seizures, urinary incontinence, weight gain, and fatigue. Regarding different techniques, urinary incontinence, sleep disorders, fatigue, and disorientation are frequent but transient complications of RF lesioning. Gamma capsulotomy has a risk of adverse radiation effects, such as radiation necrosis, brain edema, and cyst formation. MRgFUS seems to lack many of the inherent risks associated with more invasive treatment modalities. Discussion: Capsulotomy complications, usually transient and self-limited, include neurological and psychiatric manifestations, cerebrovascular accidents, thromboembolic events, and infections. Their occurrence and nature depend on the chosen modality. The principal limitation of this study is the fact that most data come from case reports or case series. As a result, the total number of patients who underwent capsulotomy is limited. Further clinical research is mandatory to improve the safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":20741,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki","volume":" ","pages":"37-43"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144822344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Borderline Personality Features Scale for Children - 11: psychometric properties in a Greek early adolescent clinical sample from a community child and adolescent mental health service.","authors":"Iouliani Koullourou, Konstantinos Kotsis, Giovanni Abrahão Salum, Carla Sharp, Emmanouel Tsalamanios, Evangelia Karagiannopoulou, Konstantinos Kotsis, Christos Mantas","doi":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.028","DOIUrl":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe mental health condition typically identified in adolescence. We aim to investigate the factor structure, internal consistency, item analysis, convergent validity, and diagnostic accuracy of the Greek version of the Borderline Personality Features Scale for Children-11 (BPFSC-11). A sample of 112 early adolescents aged 11 to 14 years was recruited from an outpatient community child and adolescent mental health service. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used to explore the fit of the unidimensional model to our sample. Reliability was assessed using the omega coefficient, and regression analysis was employed to evaluate convergent validity with the dysregulation profile of psychopathology, as measured by the Youth Self Report (YSR). Item analysis was assessed via Item Response Theory, while criterion validity was evaluated against clinical evaluation using the ROC curve. We found that BPFS-11 did not fit the data well, while a 9-item version provided a good fit (RMSEA = 0.058, CFI = 0.986, TLI = 0.982). Reliability was strong (ω = 0.81). Convergent validity was demonstrated, as adolescents with high scores on the dysregulation profile of the YSR had statistically significantly higher summed scores on the BPFS. The ROC curve analysis suggested high diagnostic accuracy (AUC=0.86). Sensitivity at the optimum cut-off point of 26 was found to be 0.88, while specificity was 0.75. Our study presents evidence for the reliability and validity of the BPFS and provides a cut-off point for its use in outpatient clinical settings to timely identify adolescents with high borderline personality traits.</p>","PeriodicalId":20741,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki","volume":" ","pages":"18-27"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145811022","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Updating the position of fluoxetine: Editorial shift or evidence-based evolution?","authors":"Georgios Mikellides, Olympia Evagorou, Marianna Tantele","doi":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.018","DOIUrl":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To the Editors, The Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines in Psychiatry have long been regarded as a cornerstone of psychopharmacological practice internationally. In the recently published 15th edition (2025), a notable shift in the positioning of fluoxetine is observed, particularly regarding its use during pregnancy. Fluoxetine is no longer presented as a first-line option without the inclusion of new robust evidence to justify this downgrading.1 Historically, fluoxetine has been recognized as a first-line SSRI due to its well-established efficacy, favorable tolerability, long half-life protecting against withdrawal symptoms, and safer profile in overdose compared to older antidepressants.3,4 In the 15th edition, it is stated that \"an association between prenatal SSRI use and congenital heart defects has been reported, with some studies suggesting a higher risk with fluoxetine and paroxetine\".1 The only relevant citation is Reefhuis et al (2015),5 which employed Bayesian analysis to reevaluate previous associations. Although a slight increase in risk for specific congenital anomalies (e.g., right ventricular outflow tract obstruction) was identified, the study concludes that the absolute risks are small and that most SSRIs, including fluoxetine, are not significantly associated with specific birth defects. It is important to highlight that this study was already available at the time of the 14th edition (2021),2 where fluoxetine continued to be considered an appropriate and safe choice during pregnancy. This raises concerns about whether the change in tone in the 15th edition reflects genuine new scientific developments or simply evolving clinical preferences. Moreover, current NICE guidelines6,7 do favor sertraline due to a slightly lower observed risk in pregnancy. However, they also emphasize that women benefiting from an existing SSRI treatment should not be advised to switch medications solely because of pregnancy. Notably, fluoxetine remains the only SSRI officially approved for treating moderate to severe depression in adolescents aged 8-18 years.8 While adapting guidelines to evolving prescribing practices is understandable, in authoritative references such as the Maudsley Guidelines, it is crucial to clearly distinguish between evidence-based updates and pragmatic clinical trends. Failure to do so may inadvertently undermine confidence in long-standing, evidence-supported treatments like fluoxetine, ultimately affecting clinical decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":20741,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki","volume":" ","pages":"56-57"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144822378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and severity of depression in patients with chronic viral hepatitis in Kazakhstan.","authors":"Tatyana Vasiliyevna Polukchi","doi":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.019","DOIUrl":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Depression is a common issue among patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Living with chronic hepatitis can create chronic stress, which is a known risk factor for developing or exacerbating depression. This stress can be related to concerns about health, the effectiveness of treatment, and the social implications of the illness. Neuropsychological scales and assessments can objectively measure the severity of depression and other mental health issues in these patients. The presence of depression was studied in 233 patients with chronic viral hepatitis, who were treated in the Infectious Disease Hospital of Shymkent and the Regional Hepatology Centre of Shymkent in the period from March 2021 to January 2022. All patients were examined using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) to identify the presence of depression. Of the 233 patients with chronic viral hepatitis, 38.3% had mild depressive disorder, 2.7% of patients had scores indicating moderate depressive disorder, and 2.7% of patients were found to have major depressive disorder. Multivariate analysis showed that older age, the form of chronic viral hepatitis, higher viral load, and female gender were most strongly associated with depression. Depression is a common manifestation in patients with chronic viral hepatitis and can lead to cognitive impairments such as difficulties with concentration, memory problems, and decreased executive function. In the context of chronic hepatitis, which may already affect liver function and metabolic processes, untreated depression can exacerbate these cognitive deficits.</p>","PeriodicalId":20741,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki","volume":" ","pages":"10-17"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144822346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Quality and Reliability of YouTube Videos on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy including Hypnosis.","authors":"Mohammad A Abu Sabra, Khaled Suleiman, Marwa AlBarmaw, Hasan Abualruz, Mohamed A Zoromba","doi":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.025","DOIUrl":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hypnosis combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-hypnosis) is a type of psychological treatment that focuses on how people think and behave in various mental and medical illnesses. It treats behavioral and emotional issues by tapping into the subconscious mind. Patients who are hypnotized are more open to new ideas and less prone to decline hard ones. The result is that it is simpler to adopt the healthy cognitive patterns and habits that CBT tries to promote. YouTube is a great resource for health-related education that has the power to greatly impact the choices and actions of medical professionals, patients, and their primary caregivers, because they visit the YouTube platform to investigate and obtain guidance regarding CBT-hypnosis. However, unreliable and deceptive information on YouTube could encourage undesirable habits, making patients, primary caregivers, and hypnosis practitioners avoid CBT-hypnosis. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the quality and reliability of YouTube videos about CBT-hypnosis as a source of supportive information for practitioners, patients, and their primary caregivers. A total of 354 YouTube videos about CBT-hypnosis were analyzed. The videos' reliability and quality were assessed using the Global Quality Scale and a modified DISCERN tool. The analysis found that the median overall GQS score was 3 (IQR: 2; min-max: 1-5), indicating that the videos had moderate quality and some important information was adequately covered. The modified DISCERN tool yielded a median total score of 3 (IQR: 1; min-max: 0-5), indicating that the videos were moderately reliable and that the information was presented in a balanced and unbiased manner. Most of the included videos came from science and technology sources (academic channels) (57.6%; n = 204). While 42.4% of videos came from non-profits and activism, people and blogs, and others lay in public. As a supportive source of information, YouTube videos about CBT-hypnosis are regarded as being of a moderate level of quality and reliability. Therefore, formal presenters should promote the distribution of good-quality content, which helps to improve the quality of information available on the YouTube platform.</p>","PeriodicalId":20741,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki","volume":" ","pages":"28-36"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145811032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of psychosocial well-being, psychological distress, and financial burden in patients with chronic and recurrent dermatophytosis.","authors":"Niha Fathima Imthiaz, Spandana P Hegde, Shashwath Sathyanath, Manjunath M Shenoy, Malcolm Pinto, Ashmiya Razak","doi":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.015","DOIUrl":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic dermatophytosis, a persistent fungal infection lasting over six months, is a significant public health concern. The study examines the psychosocial well-being, psychological distress, and financial burden experienced by patients with chronic and recurrent dermatophytosis. A hospital-based cross-sectional design was employed, enrolling 316 patients from a tertiary care dermatology outpatient department in South India over six months. Participants completed questionnaires of quality of life (Dermatology Life Quality Index, DLQI), financial burden (Financial Burden and Worry questionnaire, FBW), and psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS). Findings revealed a substantial impact on the quality of life, with 71.6% of participants reporting a very large effect as per DLQI scores. Factors such as itching, embarrassment, and daily routine disturbances were significantly associated with higher DLQI scores. Financial challenges were prominent, with 56.6% of participants delaying treatment due to financial constraints and 30.7% reducing overall expenses. The economic burden was further evident as 26.2% used savings, 12.9% borrowed money, and 16.1% reduced essential healthcare spending for other family members. Psychological distress was significant, with 31.6% and 29.7% of participants showing abnormal anxiety and depression scores, respectively, on HADS. A strong positive correlation was observed between DLQI scores, anxiety, and depression, highlighting the interdependence between disease severity and mental health. This study underscores the need for a holistic approach to managing chronic dermatophytosis, addressing not only medical but also psychosocial and financial aspects. Integrating affordable treatment options, public health awareness campaigns, and psychological counselling can significantly alleviate the burden on affected individuals. These findings provide critical insights for clinicians and policymakers to design comprehensive care strategies aimed at improving patient outcomes and quality of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":20741,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki","volume":" ","pages":"3-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144822343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The evaluation of quality characteristics of the mental health services provided at the General Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic of the Eginition Hospital.","authors":"Dimitra Bourazana, Ilias I Vlachos, Maria Margariti","doi":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.014","DOIUrl":"10.22365/jpsych.2025.014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aims to assess the quality characteristics of mental health services provided at the General Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic of the 1st Department of Psychiatry at Eginitio Hospital, with the objective of monitoring and improving care. It is a descriptive, cross-sectional study based on clinical records from 1,146 patients. From this total, a stratified random sample of 265 patients was selected and assessed using the Verona Service Satisfaction Scale (VSSS). Among the 1,146 patients, 52% were female. The most represented age group was 50-59 years. Additionally, 56% were unmarried, 47% were unemployed, and 42% lived with their parental family. Psychotic disorders were the most common diagnosis (38%). On average, patients attended three consultations annually, while 26% received more than four sessions per year. Increased visit frequency was significantly associated with both age (p = 0.001) and psychiatric diagnosis (p < 0.001). Regarding satisfaction, 84.2% of patients reported high satisfaction with services. Older age was positively associated with greater satisfaction levels (p < 0.001). Concerning suggestions for service improvement, 28.7% of patients expressed a desire for access to psychotherapy, 25.3% requested more assistance in obtaining social benefits, and 20.8% supported the introduction of home treatment services. These findings align with previous studies in Greece, confirming slightly higher service use by women and a predominance of psychotic spectrum disorders. While the average follow-up interval was 120 days, medically necessary cases were monitored more frequently (30-90 days). Patient satisfaction was generally high, and older individuals tended to report greater contentment. Reported needs for service enhancement centered on increased access to psychotherapeutic and psychosocial interventions, along with the development of home-based care options.</p>","PeriodicalId":20741,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki","volume":" ","pages":"280-288"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144822376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}