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Primary care and the early phases of schizophrenia in the Czech Republic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2011

David Holub ,
Barbora Wenigová ,
Daniel Umbricht  and
Andor E. Simon
David Holub
Affiliation:
Charles University School of Medicine, Hradec Kràlové, (CzechRepublic)
Barbora Wenigová
Affiliation:
Centre for Mental Health Care Development, Prague (Czech Republic)
Daniel Umbricht
Affiliation:
Translational Medicine Neuroscience, Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel (Switzerland)
Andor E. Simon*
Affiliation:
Specialised Outpatient Clinic for Early Psychosis, Psychiatric Outpatient Services Bruderholz (Switzerland) University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bern (Switzerland)
*
Address for correspondence: Dr. A.E. Simon, Clinical and Research Consultant Psychiatrist Specialised Outpatient Clinic for Early Psychosis, Psychiatric Outpatient Services Bruderholz, 4101 Bruderholz (Switzerland). Fax: +41–61–4254546 E-mail: andor.simon@bluewin.ch
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Summary

Aim – To explore knowledge, treatment setting, attitudes and needs associated with patients in early phases of psychosis among general practitioners (GPs) in Prague, andto compare results with GPs from 6 countries participating in the International GP Study (IGPS) on Early Psychosis (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, Norway,Austria). Methods – Survey questionnaires were mailed to 648 GPs in the city of Prague. Results – The response rate was 19.9%. Prague GPs showed significantly lower diagnostic knowledge of early phases of psychosis compared to their international colleagues. They frequently indicated depression/anxiety and somatic complaints as early warnings of psychosis. They more often considered their behaviour to be problematic and more commonly handed them over to specialists. The majority of Prague GPs wished specialized outpatient services for low-threshold referrals of such patients. Conclusions – Along the mental health reforms in the Czech Republic which emphasis the role of primary care, GPs' knowledge of the early warning signs of psychosis needs to be improved.

Declaration of Interest: The study was supported by an unrestricted grant from Sanofi-Synthélabo SA, Switzerland, to the principal investigators of the IGPS (AES, DU). The authors have stated that there are none; all authors are independent from the funding body and the views expressed in this paper have not been influenced by the funding source.

Keywords

primary health caregeneral practitionersgeneralistearly psychosis.
Type
Original Articles
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 19 , Issue 3 , September 2010 , pp. 243 - 250
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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