Is treatment in groups a useful alternative for psychiatry in low-income countries? An evaluation of a psychiatric outpatient unit in Nicaragua

• Published in: Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica Vol. 92; no. 5; p. 386
• Main Authors: Caldera, T, Kullgren, G, Penayo, U, Jacobsson, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.11.1995
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living - psychology; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Ambulatory Care - economics; Cost Savings; Developing Countries; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Mental Disorders - psychology; Mental Disorders - rehabilitation; Middle Aged; Nicaragua; Patient Care Team - economics; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychotherapy, Group - economics; Schizophrenia - diagnosis; Schizophrenia - rehabilitation; Schizophrenic Psychology; Treatment Outcome; Nicaragua
• ISSN: 0001-690X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1995.tb09601.x

Centro de Atención Psicosocial in León, Nicaragua is a psychiatric outpatient unit that has developed a group-oriented model of working, in which 80% of all visits are in groups: first-admission groups, insight-oriented group psychotherapy, psycho-educative, family groups and relatives groups. The aim of the present study was to analyze patient characteristics and make a preliminary study of improvement, compliance and patient satisfaction in a 1-year perspective. One hundred consecutive visits were assessed, 44 of them first admissions. They were assessed according to all axes of DSM-III-R plus the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-III Disorders. A 1-year follow up was conducted on 39 of 41 selected patients within the major diagnostic groups. One of 4 patients had a psychotic disorder where schizophrenia dominated. Among nonpsychotics major depression, anxiety and adjustment disorders were most frequent. Personality disorders were common (80%) among nonpsychotic patients, paranoid, obsessive-compulsive, passive-aggressive and masochistic personality disorders dominating. The illiteracy rate was 10%, but 50% had high school or university background. Severity of mental disorders and functional level did not differ between educational levels. There was a strong male dominance in all diagnostic, socioeconomic and educational level strata and few old patients. Improvement in functional level was clinically and statistically significant in all groups, and more than two thirds were very satisfied with the group treatment offered.