Child and adolescent service and community mental health center: HoNOS findings in a joint take in charge model in Trieste

Introduction A collaboration between the Child and Adolescent Unit 2 (Badof-2) and Community Mental Health 2 (CMHC-2) started several years ago in order to have a joint take in charge of under 25 people presenting needs to either one of the services. A major focus has been put, in this period, on early psychotic onset. Objectives The impact of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders on daily life has been very well studied in clinical populations and in general ones, leaving some gaps on which are more heavily involved in the resulting disability. In this study, we have used the HoNOS scale, in the Italian validated version, in order to evaluate the single items. Methods We have enrolled all the under-30 people taken in charge by the two aforementioned services in the period 2013–2016 with a ICD-10 F20–F29 diagnosis, dividing them in two subgroups (′13–′14 and ′15–′16) in order to find if there was an impact of the prolonged time of take in charge. A HoNOS evaluation has been submitted to all the 21 people found. Results HoNOS scores of the first subgroup are generally lower than the ones of the second subgroup (median: 6 vs. 16.5). Self-harmness, cognitive disorders and post-psychotic depression have a heavier impact in daily life than the classic positive and negative symptomatology. Focusing on psychosocial recovery programs, this area has been partly marginally affected. Conclusions The two subgroups show different HoNOS scores, with lower ones in the ′13–′14 group. More studies on general population and covariates should be conducted.