SU53. Needs of Young People With Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Their Caregivers: A Large-Scale Survey

Background: For the first time in Spain, a large-scale survey (5205 people) was carried out to establish the real needs of those directly affected by the illness. The form contained 9 questions: personal and social dimension, psychotherapeutic treatment, rehabilitation, medical treatment, or help that they receive from professionals. Methods: The collection of data and the analysis of this study were done globally, without stratification, as well as with stratified and compared data, according to whether the survey answers were from a person with schizophrenia/psychosis or a family member/close friend/caregiver; according to the age of the survey respondent; or according to the gender or the place of origin of the data. Analysis of categorical variables was based on the description of frequency and response rate. The Fisher’s exact test was used to compare this type of variables between categories. The analysis of ordinal variables have been described in terms of frequency and response rate, but also have been treated processed with their ordinal nature, translating each of the responses to an ordinal value so as to subsequently describe the mean category of response. For comparison of ordinal variables, the Mann-Whitney U test was used in the case of 2 comparison groups or the Kruskal-Wallis test for 3 or more groups. It should be noted that the sample size of this study, because it is so large, makes the statistical estimates very accurate and, therefore, by analyzing differences between groups, we are able to detect very small differences between these groups. Results: For patients, the most important need (an average score of 3.5 on a scale of importance from 1 to 4) was to feel their emotional needs covered. The following average scores were also obtained: feel well physically (3.42), improve autonomy (3.41), have leisure activities (3.21), and work/study (3.1). Forty-two percentage of patients indicated having little or no freedom over their lives. Thirty-six percentage indicated that medical treatment did not start soon enough, 35% that psychotherapy started too late, and 13% saying they had received no psychotherapy at all. The help from professionals most valued was provide information about the illness (3.4), dedicating more time (3.4), investigating new treatments (3.3), paying attention to secondary effects (3.3), and incorporating the patient in decision making (3.3). Most patients reported a state of health “regular to good” but 10% indicated not being understood at all in their social environment since onset of illness and 25% being little understood. The antistigma initiative most valued was to increase investment in schizophrenia in Health Planning. Conclusion: An early and comprehensive approach to psychosis should incorporate the views of the people and prioritize their basic and emotional needs.