A predictive model to allocate frequent service users of community-based mental health services to different packages of care.

Aim: To develop predictive models to allocate patients into frequent and low service users groups within the Italian Community-based Mental Health Services (CMHSs). To allocate frequent users to different packages of care, identifying the costs of these packages.

Methods: Socio-demographic and clinical data and GAF scores at baseline were collected for 1250 users attending five CMHSs.

The factorial structure of the Outcome Questionnaire-45: a study with an Italian sample.

In this article, the authors study the factorial structure of the Italian translation of the Outcome Questionnaire 45 (OQ-45) in a sample of college students (n = 522) and psychiatric outpatients (n = 301). The relative goodness of fit of six competing models of the OQ-45 was examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Specifically, the study examined the relative fit of the most frequently presented models in the literature and three alternative models.

[The outcome questionnaire 45.2. Italian validation of an instrument for the assessment of psychological treatments].

Aims: The Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45.2; Lambert et al., 2004) was designed to measure important areas of functioning (symptoms, interpersonal problems and social role functioning) that are of central interest in mental health.

[The cost and utilization of psychotherapy in community-based mental health services. A multicentre study in five Italian areas].

Aims: To investigate the prevalence of psychotherapy intervention in five Italian Centres for Mental Health. Analysing sociodemographic characteristics, geographical differences, frequencies of psychotherapy interventions, and the costs of these interventions.

Methods: Five Italian Community-based Psychiatric Services collected data from 1250 patients during October 2002.

[Proposal for a new funding system for mental health departments. Results from an evaluative multicentre Italian study (I-psycost)].

Aims: To obtain a new, well-balanced mental health funding system, through the creation of (i) a list of psychiatric interventions provided by Italian Community-based Psychiatric Services (CPS), and associated costs; (ii) a new prospective funding system for patients with a high use of resources, based on packages of care.

Methods: Five Italian Community-based Psychiatric Services collected data from 1250 patients during October 2002. Socio-demographical and clinical characteristics and GAF scores were collected at baseline.

[Which psychotherapy in the departments of mental health? From evaluation issues a few ideas to discuss].

Aims: Taking the scientific literature on psychotherapy as a starting point, the paper suggests a few remarks for the debate over psychological treatments in the mental health services in Italy.

Methods: A survey of reviews and papers on process and outcome of psychological treatments and on psychotherapeutic practice in mental health services.

Results: The paper examines some organizing hypotheses in order to increase psychological treatments supplies.