Needs in outpatients with schizophrenia, assessed by the patients themselves and their parents and staff

Background There has been a change in psychiatric care from a hospital-oriented care system to an outpatient-centred system, which has underlined the importance of support alternatives. Methods The sample was drawn from outpatients with schizophrenia at an outpatient clinic in 2001. We used structured interviews when interviewing outpatients, parents and staff. The interview with the patient included the patient's needs, global function, clinical global impression and insight. Both parents and staff were interviewed about the patient's needs. Results The mean value of GAF was 56+/-10, CGI 4+/-1 and 89% of the patients had full insight into their illness. The patients rated the total score of the severity of needs at a mean of 7+/-4, while the parents' and staff's rating was 9+/-5. The needs ranking between patients and parents and patients and staff showed a correlation of rho = 0.65 (p<0.01) and parents and staff rho =0.95 (p<0.01). The parents rated more problems involving physical health and money than the patients. Conclusion When planning mental health in the future, it is important to assess the views of the patients, the parents and the staff from a multiple perspective.