Abstract
Aims - To describe the health status, resource consumption and costs of patients with dysthymic disorder in the Italian primary care setting. Methods - A total of 79 general practitioners (GPs) participated the study. Diagnosis was based on each GP's clinical assessment. At entry the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) was used as a supporting diagnostic aid. Health status was measured with the SF-36 questionnaire. Resource consumption and costs regarded the six months before enrolment. Results - Out of 598 patients enrolled by GPs according to their clinical assessment, 503 fulfilled the MINI criteria and 95 did not. The latter had a better perception of their health than the former. Resource consumption was similar in the two groups; and the total per patient six-month costs did not differ significantly. Conclusions - The study confirms there may be a gap between standardised criteria for defining dysthymia and everyday clinical practice. All dysthymic patients diagnosed by GPs might be considered together from a health policy perspective.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 120-125 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Epidemiologia e Psichiatria Sociale |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2004 |
Keywords
- Cost
- Dysthymia
- Health status
- Italy
- Resource consumption
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health