Medium and long-term efficacy of psychoeducational family intervention for bipolar I disorder: Results from a real-world, multicentric study.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the long-term efficacy of a psychoeducational family intervention (PFI) in bipolar I disorder at one and five years post-intervention in terms of improvement of: (1) patients' symptoms and global functioning and (2) relatives' objective and subjective burden and coping strategies.

Methods: This is a multicentre, real-world, controlled, outpatient trial. Recruited patients and key-relatives were consecutively allocated to the experimental intervention or treatment as usual.

Genetic surveillance in the Greater Mekong subregion and South Asia to support malaria control and elimination.

Background: National Malaria Control Programmes (NMCPs) currently make limited use of parasite genetic data. We have developed GenRe-Mekong, a platform for genetic surveillance of malaria in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) that enables NMCPs to implement large-scale surveillance projects by integrating simple sample collection procedures in routine public health procedures.

Methods: Samples from symptomatic patients are processed by SpotMalaria, a high-throughput system that produces a comprehensive set of genotypes comprising several drug resistance markers, species markers and a genomic barcode.

The effects of psychoeducational family intervention on coping strategies of relatives of patients with bipolar I disorder: results from a controlled, real-world, multicentric study.

Background: Psychoeducational family intervention (PFI) has been proven to be effective in improving the levels of family burden and patients' personal functioning in schizophrenia and bipolar disorders (BDs). Less is known about the impact of PFI on relatives' coping strategies in BD.

Methods: A multicenter, controlled, outpatient trial funded by the Italian Ministry of Health and coordinated by the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" has been conducted in patients with bipolar I disorder (BD-I) and their key relatives consecutively recruited in 11 randomly selected Italian community mental health centers.

A standardized framework for representation of ancestry data in genomics studies, with application to the NHGRI-EBI GWAS Catalog.

The accurate description of ancestry is essential to interpret, access, and integrate human genomics data, and to ensure that these benefit individuals from all ancestral backgrounds. However, there are no established guidelines for the representation of ancestry information. Here we describe a framework for the accurate and standardized description of sample ancestry, and validate it by application to the NHGRI-EBI GWAS Catalog.

Feasibility of a psychoeducational family intervention for people with bipolar I disorder and their relatives: Results from an Italian real-world multicentre study.

Background: Despite several guidelines recommend the use of psychoeducational family interventions (PFIs) as add-on in the treatment of patients with bipolar I disorder, their implementation on a large scale remains limited. The aim of the present study is to identify obstacles for the feasibility of PFIs in routine care.

Methods: This was a multicentre, real-world, controlled, outpatient trial, carried out in 11 randomly recruited Italian mental health centres.

Efficacy of psychoeducational family intervention for bipolar I disorder: A controlled, multicentric, real-world study.

Background: This study assessed the efficacy of the Falloon model of psychoeducational family intervention (PFI), originally developed for schizophrenia management and adapted to bipolar I disorder. The efficacy of the intervention was evaluated in terms of improvement of patients׳ social functioning and reduction of family burden.

Methods: This was a multicentre, real-world, controlled, outpatient trial carried out in 11 randomly recruited Italian mental health centres.

A genome wide association study of Plasmodium falciparum susceptibility to 22 antimalarial drugs in Kenya.

Background: Drug resistance remains a chief concern for malaria control. In order to determine the genetic markers of drug resistant parasites, we tested the genome-wide associations (GWA) of sequence-based genotypes from 35 Kenyan P. falciparum parasites with the activities of 22 antimalarial drugs.

A 'family affair'? The impact of family psychoeducational interventions on depression.

Major depressive disorder is reported to be the most common mental disorder, and one of the leading causes of disability-adjusted life years. It causes high levels of family burden and of expressed emotions. Research interest in family functioning in mental disorders has recently shifted from schizophrenia to unipolar and bipolar affective disorders.

Development and validation of a self-reported questionnaire on users' opinions about schizophrenia: a participatory research.

Background: Although users' involvement in mental health research has repeatedly been acknowledged as having a positive influence on research quality, this rarely happens.

Aims: To develop and validate a Questionnaire on Users' Opinions (QOU) about schizophrenia, in close collaboration with 279 persons affected by this disorder.

Methods: A preliminary list of items concerning the opinions of users with schizophrenia regarding causes, treatments and psychosocial consequences of the disorder was developed by 38 users with schizophrenia and 40 professionals who attended a workshop.

Family burden in bipolar disorders: results from the Italian Mood Disorders Study (IMDS).

Aims: To explore: a) the burden of care, and the professional and social support in relatives of patients with bipolar disorders; b) the psychosocial interventions provided to patients and their families by Italian mental health centres.

Methods: 342 outpatients with a bipolar disorder and their key-relatives were randomly recruited in 26 Italian mental health centres, randomly selected and stratified by geographical area and population density. Family burden was explored in relation to: a) patient's clinical status and disability; b) relatives' social and professional support; c) interventions received by patients and their families; d) geographical area.

What people with schizophrenia think about the causes of their disorder.

Aims: To describe what users with schizophrenia think about the causes of their disorder.

Methods: In each of the 10 participating Italian mental health centres, 25 users with schizophrenia were consecutively recruited and asked to complete the Users' Opinions Questionnaire (UOQ).

Results: 150 out of 198 respondents mentioned at least one social cause for their mental disorder, and 114 reported exclusively social causes.

Views of persons with schizophrenia on their own disorder: an Italian participatory study.

Objective: This study explored the views of 241 patients with schizophrenia about their own disorder.

Methods: Patients' knowledge of their diagnosis, confidence that they will be well again, and perception of limitations in their own life as a result of the disorder were explored in relation to patients' opinions about the social consequences of schizophrenia. Study results were presented to participants, and suggestions were collected regarding how these study results should be used.

Patient functioning and family burden in a controlled, real-world trial of family psychoeducation for schizophrenia.

Objective: This study explored the effectiveness of a psychoeducational family intervention for schizophrenia on patients' personal and social functioning as well as on relatives' burden and perceived support.

Methods: Thirty-four mental health professionals from 17 public mental health centers in Italy selected 71 families of consumers with schizophrenia. Forty-two families were randomly assigned to a group that received the intervention for six months, and 29 families were assigned to a waiting list for six months.

[Family psychoeducational interventions for schizophrenia in routine settings: impact on patients' clinical status and social functioning and on relatives' burden and resources].

Objective: This study explored the effectiveness of a psychoeducational family intervention for schizophrenia on patients' clinical status and disability and relatives' burden and perceived support.

Methods: The study has been carried out in 17 mental health centres. In each of them, 2 professionals were trained in a psychoeducational intervention and applied it for six months with families of users with schizophrenia.

Implementing psychoeducational interventions in Italy for patients with schizophrenia and their families.

Objective: This study explored the feasibility of providing psychoeducational interventions for persons with schizophrenia and their families.

Methods: The study was carried out in 23 Italian mental health centers. Two professionals from each center attended three monthly training sessions on psychoeducational interventions.

[Benefits and difficulties in implementing family psychoeducational interventions for schizophrenia in mental health services: results from a multicentre Italian study].

Aims: This study aims to explore: a) the feasibility of psycho-educational interventions for families of users with schizophrenia in clinical practice by trained staff; b) the benefits and problems encountered by professionals in the use of these interventions.

Methods: 46 professionals from 23 Italian Mental Health Services (MHS) attended at a three-module training course in psycho-educational interventions and four supervisions in the subsequent year. Following the course, participants provided the intervention to families of users with schizophrenia.

Social network in long-term diseases: a comparative study in relatives of persons with schizophrenia and physical illnesses versus a sample from the general population.

This study compares the social network of a sample of 709 relatives of patients with schizophrenia, 646 relatives of patients with physical diseases, and 714 lay respondents, recruited in 30 randomly selected Italian areas, stratified for geographic location and population density. Each respondent was asked to fill in the Social Network Questionnaire. The social network was less extended and supportive in relatives of patients with schizophrenia than in those of patients with physical diseases and in the general population.

Family burden in long-term diseases: a comparative study in schizophrenia vs. physical disorders.

This study explored burden and social networks in families of patients with schizophrenia or a long-term physical disease. It was carried out in 169 specialised units (mental health department, and units for the treatment of chronic heart, brain, diabetes, kidney, lung diseases) recruited in 30 randomly selected geographic areas of Italy. The study sample consisted of 709 key relatives of patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia and 646 key relatives of patients with physical diseases.

[Burden, attitudes and social support in the families of patients with long-term physical diseases].

Aims: To describe in a sample of 646 relatives of patients with physical long-term illnesses: a) the relatives' burden of care; b) the relatives' attitudes towards the patients; c) the social and professional support received by the families.

Methods: The study has been carried out in 30 Italian geographic areas randomly selected taking into account geographic location and population density. The sample has been consecutively recruited in 139 specialised units for the treatment of chronic heart, brain, diabetes, kidney, and lung diseases.

Beliefs of psychiatric nurses about schizophrenia: a comparison with patients' relatives and psychiatrists.

Background: What patients' relatives and health professionals think about causes, treatments and psychosocial consequences of schizophrenia can influence its detection and outcome.

Aims: To compare the beliefs about schizophrenia in 190 nurses, 110 psychiatrists and 709 relatives of patients with this mental disorder, recruited in 30 randomly selected mental health centres.

Methods: In each centre, the key-relatives of the first consecutive 25 subjects with schizophrenia, and the nurses and psychiatrists who had been working in the service for at least one year, were asked to complete the Questionnaire on the Opinions about Mental Illness (QO).