Evaluation of a psychoeducational intervention adapted from the Falloon model for first episode psychosis: a one-year follow-up real-world study.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Falloon Psychoeducational Family Intervention (PFI), originally developed for the management of schizophrenia, afterwards adapted for early psychosis, in terms of adherence to the treatment, low relapse rate, improvement social functioning and stress management.

Methods: This is a one-year, pragmatic, real-world observational study with subjects consecutively recruited at the Campobasso psychiatry ward (SPDC) or Mental Health Center (MHC) starting in November 2020 over an 18 month period. Patients recruited were asked for consent for family members' participation.

Development and validation of a new standardized measure for assessing experiences of discrimination within mental health services. A participatory research project.

Aims: People with mental disorders frequently report experiences of discrimination within mental health services, which can have significant detrimental effects on individuals' well-being and recovery. This study aimed to develop and validate a new standardized measure aiming to assess experiences of stigmatization among people with mental disorders within mental health services.

Methods: The scale was developed in Italian and tested for ease of use, comprehension, acceptability, relevance of items and response options within focus group session.

The Italian consensus conference on psychological therapies for anxiety and depressive disorders: findings and recommendations.

A Consensus Conference of clinicians, researchers, public health specialists and users was convened in Italy to review efficacy, effectiveness, treatment appropriateness and access to care for anxiety and depression, and to consider the role of psychological therapies. Expert opinion was sought concerning identification of people requiring psychological therapies according to levels of symptom severity matched to corresponding levels of treatment intensity, suitability of psychological therapies for subclinical anxiety or depression, definition of a minimum level of information on evidence-based psychotherapies to be provided by university medical and psychology courses, initiatives to raise awareness among potential users and decision makers on the role and effectiveness of psychological therapies in healthcare. The expert jury concluded that a number of psychological therapy models endorsed by most authoritative guidelines are supported by research showing their effectiveness at least equal to the drugs used in common mental disorders (CMDs).

Positive impact of InteGRO, a new salutogenic psychoeducational intervention, in managing covid-19 pandemic and lockdown aftermath.

Aim: The covid-19 pandemic/lockdown had a great impact on Severe Mental Illnesses (SMI) on the following variables: adherence to protective measures, infection, Covid-related psychopathology, stress related symptoms exacerbation, social relationship loss and higher mortality risk. InteGRO, a new effective salutogenic-psychoeducational approach, has been designed to help people with SMI manage their life-stress and achieve personal recovery goals through improved social functioning. Positive outcomes after pandemic/lockdown in patients trained with InteGRO and also their opinion about its usefulness are discussed.