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Although various surveys on job satisfaction have been performed in mental health care settings, no studies have investigated in-depth the level of satisfaction with the various aspects of work in Italian mental health services. In the present study, all clinical mental health staff working in a large psychiatric catchment area in Rome were invited to anonymously complete a previously validated questionnaire designed to measure job satisfaction among mental health professionals. Of the total 236 health professionals, 106 (88%) agreed to participate. Most participants were not completely satisfied with many aspects of their job, and many were not even moderately satisfied. The level of satisfaction increased with age, and it was significantly lower among hospital-ward staff compared to the staff of outpatient clinics or residential facilities, even after adjusting for age, gender, profession, work setting, and time in current job, using a multiple logistic regression model. Our findings suggest that interventions aimed at increasing job satisfaction among Italian mental health professionals might be warranted, particularly among hospital-ward staff. KEY WORDS: health personnel; job satisfaction; mental health services; quality of health care.

Aim of the study. To study putative psychotic phenomena in patients with Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Subject or material and methods: Sixty patients with a DSM-5 diagnosis of BED were studied. Scores at the Sc, Pa and other subscales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) were used to assess possible psychotic features. Eating phenomena were assessed by the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2). The relationship between them was studied. Results. Mean BMI was 38.24±8.43. The Sc and Pa scales of the MMPI-2 were above the cut-off in, respectively, 43.33% and 46.67% of patients. Regression analyses show that both Sc and Pa had a significant effect on EDI-2 scores, although only the Sc scale remained significant after adjusting for their possible interrelation. More than 40% of patients reported high scores (65 or more) at the following MMPI-2 "psychotic" subscales: Paranoia (Pa), Schizophrenia (Sc), Social Alienation (Sc1), Emotional Alienation (Sc2), and Lack of Ego Mastery, both cognitive and conative (Sc3 & Sc4). Perfectionism, Impulse Regulation, Ascetism, Social Insecurity, Interoceptive Awareness, Ineffectiveness, and Maturity Fears are the EDI-2 scales significantly influenced by the Sc and Pa MMPI-2 scores. Discussion. Several putative psychotic phenomena were reported in our sample of binge eaters, and they were related to higher scores on several dimensions of the EDI-2. Conclusions. At least in some patients, there might be an overlap between some psychotic basic phenomena (disordered sense of basic Self, of bodily experiences, and hyperreflectivity), and those basic disturbances in identity development and Self-schemas which are at the base of eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present study evaluates the outcome of cognitive training as part of Brenner's Integrated Psychological Therapy (IPT) in two groups of individuals with a schizophrenic spectrum disorder (F20-F24 ICD-10). 28 participants were divided into either an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group was composed of 13 individuals (46%) with a mean age of 21.2 years and a mean duration of illness (since their first episode of psychosis FEP) of 15.6 months. The control group included 15 individuals (54%) with a mean age of 25.6 years and a mean duration of illness of 74.4 months (beyond the critical period)., Method: Participants underwent an assessment of cognitive functioning which focused on attention, memory, executive functioning and cognitive flexibility as measured by the WCST (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test). Each individual was tested pre- and 6-month post-intervention. The original IPT method was altered by reducing the frequency of sessions to once a week and by limiting our sessions to 2-3 individuals per group., Results: Cognitive flexibility (p<0.01) and long-term memory (p<0.01) improved only in the experimental group. These former skills worsened in the control group (p<0.01). Selective attention, short-term memory and verbal fluency improved in both groups (from p<0.05 to p<0.01)., Discussion and Conclusions: IPT cognitive training, when delivered in the early stages of psychosis (within 18 months from FEP), seems to be particularly effective in improving cognitive flexibility and long-term memory. We did not see improvements in those who had a longer duration of illness who also underwent the same treatment. Cognitive flexibility is linked to clinical insight and social cognition. Therefore, improving this function may lead to a better outcome for patients.

Background: The efficacy of a multidisciplinary, intensive and integrated day-hospital treatment was evaluated in a group of overeaters (bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, obesity without binging)., Methods: The study sample included 72 subjects consecutively admitted to DH who were evaluated at the first contact with the service, on admission, after 5 weeks of treatment, and at discharge. The primary outcome was the total score at the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI), and the secondary outcome was change in body mass index (BMI). The effects of the duration of treatment on results were also assessed. The improvement of EDI and BMI was compared between the two groups of bingers and non-bingers., Results: Four patients dropped during the treatment period. In the whole sample, both EDI and BMI improved significantly after 5 weeks (p=0.00) and continued to improve until the end of treatment (p=0.00). The duration of treatment did not have a significant impact on BMI improvement (p=0.07), but significantly affected EDI improvement (p=0.006), although only during the treatment period. No significant differences were observed between obese/overweight bingers and non-bingers in BMI improvement (p=0.41), whereas EDI improvement was higher in bingers (p=0.02)., Conclusions: The relatively good compliance and the efficacy data suggest that in overeating subjects resistant to previous outpatient treatments a more intensive DH treatment may be useful. Our findings show that such a multidisciplinary therapeutic-rehabilitative treatment significantly improves both total EDI score (especially in bingers) and BMI.

Aims: The present study aims to evaluate the outcome of two different approach in rehabilitation: IPT Cognitive Training (Brenner's) administered in conjunction with Treatment As Usual (TAU) versus TAU as a sole intervention, on cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and executive functioning in a sample of participants with a diagnosis of a Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder. Levels of problem-solving have been highlighted in participants not only in relation to the method used but also to the age, between 17-30 years with 1-3 years of mental illness and participants who are 30+ years with over 9 years of mental illness., Method: 77 participants completed the study and were matched according to diagnosis and severity of illness. 37 subjects (48%) received TAU and 40 subjects (52%) received IPT Cognitive Training+TAU. Each group have participants aged between 17-30 years with 1-3 years of mental illness and 30+ years with over 9 years of mental illness. A Neuropsychological Protocol particularly made allow assessments and was administered pre-intervention and 24 months post-intervention., Results and Conclusions: Participants who received Cognitive Training IPT+TAU showed statistically significant improvements in Selective Attention (p < 0.05) instead of the others with only TAU. By both method significant improvements were also found in all considered outcome variables (p = 0.04-0.001) on working memory, short and long-term memory, semantic memory and logical-deductive ability. Neither rehabilitation treatment produced any improvement in problem solving once compromised. Logical-Deductive Ability showed improvements only in patients aged between 17-30 years with 1-3 years of mental illness in comparison with participants aged over 30 years with 9 or more years of illness.