Do people with bipolar disorders have access to psychosocial treatments? A survey in Italy

Barbato, Angelo; Vallarino, Martine; Rapisarda, Filippo; Lora, Antonio; Parabiaghi, Alberto; D’Avanzo, Barbara; Lesage, Alain

doi:10.1177/0020764016631368

Cited by 25 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…In Italy, issues of accessibility are also present. For example, rates of patients with bipolar disorder receiving structured psychosocial treatments in Italy range from 0.7% for couple/family therapy to 6.1% for individual psychotherapy (Barbato et al ., 2016 ). Although Italy has a public healthcare system, only about 3% of healthcare funds are allocated toward mental health (Caporale, 2023 ).…”

Section: Models Of Practice and Training In Clinical Psychologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Models of practice and training in psychotherapy: cross-national perspectives from Italy and Canada

Klimkowski,

McRae,

Blick

et al. 2024

RES PSYCHOTHER-PSYCH

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Internationally, there is ongoing concern about accessibility to mental health care and training. The goal of this study was to explore commonalities and differences within models of clinical psychology and psychotherapy in Ontario, Canada, and Lombardia, Italy, respectively, to inform improvements to the accessibility of mental health care and training. Using key informant sampling, we recruited ten students and professionals in Italy and Canada who study or work in psychology for semi-structured interviews. We analyzed the interview content using an inductive approach for thematic analysis within countries and meta-theme analysis across countries. The findings indicated three cross-national meta-themes: the need to integrate evidence with practice, the limited accessibility of training for students and treatment for patients, and the importance of the quality of training programs. Despite some differences regarding the amount of scientific training, personal therapy for trainees, and the prominence of cultural diversity training, Canadian and Italian psychology professionals and students shared experiences of psychotherapy practice and clinical psychology training. The three cross-national meta-themes indicate which issues in training and practice may be relevant worldwide and where to focus resources. The findings can inform international collaborations regarding training model structures that may increase access to psychology training and may increase consensus on professional recognition standards to improve mobility for professionals. These changes could reduce barriers to mental healthcare services for patients.

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Section: Models Of Practice and Training In Clinical Psychologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Models of practice and training in psychotherapy: cross-national perspectives from Italy and Canada

Klimkowski,

McRae,

Blick

et al. 2024

RES PSYCHOTHER-PSYCH

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show abstract

“…Neither residency programmes for psychiatrists nor university training for clinical psychologists has changed significantly over the years, and this has a marked impact on the quality of mental health care, as shown by several studies published in the last four decades (Volpe et al ., 2014 ). In addition, several surveys found that psychosocial treatments, including formal psychotherapies, are not widely available and are underused for the treatment of patients who may be in need of them (Barbato et al ., 2016 ).…”

Section: Mental Health Care and Psychotherapy In Italymentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Barbato

Bottesi

Biondi

et al. 2022

Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci

Self Cite

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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). Such therapies are under-represented in the Italian public health system, leading many people to resort to the private sector, resulting in unacceptable wealth discrimination. The difficulty of accessing psychological treatments often entails the use of drug therapies in cases where they are not indicated. Starting from these assumptions, the experts recommended the promotion of better and timely recognition of anxiety and depressive disorders and their classification in terms of symptom intensity and functional impairment, differentiating subthreshold mood swings from clinical forms, to foster outcome studies of psychotherapies in CMDs in Italy, to introduce a stepped care model structured according to levels of intensity of treatment, based on wellbeing support strategies in nonmedical contexts for subthreshold situations, self-help, support and psychoeducation as frontline interventions in mild clinical forms, evidence-based psychotherapies in moderate and severe forms, with the option of combining psychological treatment and appropriate drug therapy in the most severe cases.

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“…In this study, none of the programme facilitators had any previous experiences in delivering a Positive Psychology intervention but achieved to do so with the supervision of experienced clinicians. A benefit of this intervention programme is that it could be easily taught to mental health professionals and be delivered under supervision of an experienced psychotherapist, which addresses the global shortage of experienced therapists and appropriately organised services (Barbato, Vallarino, Rapisarda, Lora, Miguel, & de Almeida, 2016).…”

Section: Clinical and Research Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Be Your Best You: A Pilot Study of a Positive Psychology Programme for People with Depression, Anxiety or Stress in Greece

Kotsoni¹,

Kanellakis²,

Stalikas³

2020

PSYCH

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This pilot study aimed to design a Positive Psychology programme for depression, anxiety or stress and test its effectiveness among Greek Psychology students. Twenty-six participants with severe or very severe symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress were assigned to the intervention and control groups. Participants in the intervention group attended six weekly sessions of the Be Your Best You Programme. All participants completed self-report questionnaires (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale) when the programme started and on the completion of the six-week intervention programme. The results indicated significant decreases in depression, anxiety, stress, and negative emotions, as well as increases in satisfaction with life among the people who attended the programme. Our findings suggest that a programme consisted of evidence-based Positive Psychology interventions could be offered to people suffering from depression, anxiety or stress to managing their difficulties. Further studies are required in this field to establish Positive Psychology intervention as a treatment of choice.

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Do people with bipolar disorders have access to psychosocial treatments? A survey in Italy

Cited by 25 publications

References 50 publications

Models of practice and training in psychotherapy: cross-national perspectives from Italy and Canada

Models of practice and training in psychotherapy: cross-national perspectives from Italy and Canada

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

Be Your Best You: A Pilot Study of a Positive Psychology Programme for People with Depression, Anxiety or Stress in Greece

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