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Schizophrenia and the environment: speculative interventions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2011

Summary

Objective – Starting from research on environmental factors that influence schizophrenia, the author speculates on innovations that could reduce the occurrence of the illness, improve its course and enhance the quality of life of sufferers and their relatives. Results – Ranging from education about obstetric risks to a stigma-reducing campaign, the suggestions could be of interest, not only to clinicians, but also to advocates, policy-makers and communications specialists. Conclusions – Several of the suggestions, which would be innovative in the United States, are already established features of Italian mental health care. These features include social enterprises, family support payments and a disability pension system without severe disincentives to work.

Riassunto

Scopo – Partendo dalla ricerca dei fattori ambientali che influenzano la schizofrenia, l'autore prende in considerazione le innovazioni che potrebbero ridurre la comparsa della malattia, migliorare il suo decorso e la qualita della vita dei pazienti e dei loro familiari. Risultati – Questi suggerimenti, che riguardano vari aspetti, dall'educazione relativa ai rischi ostetrici fino alia campagna per ridurre lo stigma, potrebbero interessare non solo i clinici, ma anche gli autori, i politici e gli specialisti della comunicazione. Conclusioni – Molti dei suggerimenti, contenuti in questo lavoro, che rappresenterebbero una novità negli Stati Uniti, sono caratteristiche acquisite nella psichiatria italiana. Tali caratteristiche includono imprese sociali, spese per fornire supporto alia famiglia ed un sistema pensionistico di invalidita privo di pesanti disincentivi al lavoro.

Type
Invited Paper
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

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