Abstract
Eight community mental health care centres (initiated by the South-Eastern Europe Stability Pact) in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro and Romania were evaluated. Characteristics of patients, patient reported outcomes
and patient views of care were assessed in 305 psychiatric patients. Patient characteristics varied across centres, with most
patients having long term psychotic disorders. Treatment satisfaction and therapeutic relationships were rated favourably.
Subjective quality of life mean scores were rather low, with higher satisfaction with health and dissatisfaction with the
financial and employment situation. Being unemployed was the only factor associated with poor quality of life and lower treatment
satisfaction. Most developing centres target patients with persistent psychotic disorders. Care appears highly valued by the
patients. The findings encourage establishing more centres in the region and call for employment schemes for people with mental
illnesses.
Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro and Romania were evaluated. Characteristics of patients, patient reported outcomes
and patient views of care were assessed in 305 psychiatric patients. Patient characteristics varied across centres, with most
patients having long term psychotic disorders. Treatment satisfaction and therapeutic relationships were rated favourably.
Subjective quality of life mean scores were rather low, with higher satisfaction with health and dissatisfaction with the
financial and employment situation. Being unemployed was the only factor associated with poor quality of life and lower treatment
satisfaction. Most developing centres target patients with persistent psychotic disorders. Care appears highly valued by the
patients. The findings encourage establishing more centres in the region and call for employment schemes for people with mental
illnesses.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10597-011-9417-6
- Authors
- Stefan Priebe, Unit for Social and Community Psychiatry, Queen Mary University of London, Newham Centre for Mental Health, E13 8SP London, UK
- Aleksandra Matanov, Unit for Social and Community Psychiatry, Queen Mary University of London, Newham Centre for Mental Health, E13 8SP London, UK
- Neli Demi, WHO Country Office, Themistokli Germenji Str., Pallati i Ri, Tirana, Albania
- Joka Blagovcanin Simic, University Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Centre Banja Luka, Macvanska bb, 78 000 Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Sandra Jovanovic, Community Mental Health Centre Mostar, Hrvatskih branitelja bb, 88 000 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Milena Gajic, Community Mental Health Centre Prnjavor, Laze Lazarevica 4, 78 430 Prnjavor, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Elizabeta Radonic, Croatian Institute of Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Salata 12, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Stojan Bajraktarov, University Clinic of Psychiatry, Belgradska bb, 1000 Skopje, Macedonia
- Larisa Boderscova, NPO, Health Systems, FCH, WHO Country Office, 27 Sfatul Tarii str., office 37-38, 2012 Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
- Monika Konatar, Community Mental Health Centre Kotor, Dobrota bb, 85 330 Kotor, Montenegro
- Raluca Nica, Romanian League for Mental Health, Sos. Mihai Bravu 90-96, bl. D17, ap.149, Sector 2, Bucharest, Romania
- Matthijs Muijen, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Scherfigsvej 8, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Journal Community Mental Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-2789
- Print ISSN 0010-3853