Evaluation of needs among patients with severe mental illness. A community study

Patients suffering from severe mental disorder present a mixed complexity of clinical and social needs which can be reliably evaluated through the Camberwell Assessment of Needs (CAN). In his study, several social, personal and clinical variables will be examined as predictive factors of the detected needs of these patients.

A sample of 518 patients included in a program of Severe Mental Disorder and treated at two centers in Barcelona was assessed with the CAN. Descriptive statistics and Poisson and negative binomial regression models were applied to identify predictive factors of needs.

The average number of needs was 5.1 (4 met and 1.1 unmet needs), figures similar to those found in European cities (Epsilon study). The more often reported needs were symptoms of anxiety or psychological discomfort, psychotic symptoms, problems in the home care, lack of social contact, medical and eating problems. Factors associated to higher number of needs were low socioeconomic class, older age, worse overall performance and presence of psychotic disorder.

Needs detected through CAN in patients suffering from severe mental illness, can be predicted by a set of variables including age, socio-economic class, overall performance and presence of psychotic disorder. These findings might be useful to plan the provision of services and strategies to satisfy the needs of patients with serious mental disorder.