The socio-economical burden of schizophrenia: a simulation of cost-offset of early intervention program in Italy.

Schizophrenia is associated with a high familiar, social and economic burden. During the recent years early and specific intervention for first psychotic episodes has been suggested to improve the long term outcome of the disease. Despite the promising results obtained so far, early intervention is still scarcely applied.

Depression and frequent attendance in elderly primary care patients.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between depression and frequent attendance in elderly primary care patients. Moreover, we compare the prevalence and clinical characteristics of frequent attenders (FAs) in the elderly and the nonelderly patients.

Methods: This nationwide, cross-sectional, two-phase epidemiological study involved 191 primary care physicians (PCPs) and 1896 patients aged 14 and over.

Increased recognition of depression in primary care. Comparison between primary-care physician and ICD-10 diagnosis of depression.

Background: Underrecognition and undertreatment of depression in primary care has been regarded as a major public health problem. In contrast, some studies found that among patients labeled as depressed by primary-care physicians (PCPs), a relevant proportion do not satisfy international diagnostic criteria for depression. The aims of this study are: (1) to assess disparity between PCP diagnosis and research diagnosis of depression; (2) to compare antidepressant treatment in concordant and discordant cases of depression.