Abstract
An inventory of institutional constraints perceived as limiting therapeutic choices was developed and completed by psychiatrists working in Italian public mental health services. Constraints considered most limiting were social and institutional pressures toward social control, violence risk assessment and prevention, and lack of control over workload. The total mean score of the perceived constraints instrument was significantly negatively correlated with ratings of perceived freedom in therapeutic choices and with overall job satisfaction. Reliability was good (alpha = 0.85). Addressing perceived constraints may result in more choice options to reach therapeutic goals in a collaborative framework with patients, and improve job satisfaction.
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Acknowledgments
Dr. Gaddomaria Grassi (Reggio Emilia, Italy), Dr. Andrea Melella (Cesena, Italy), and Prof. Marco Rigatelli (Modena, Italy) are acknowledged and thanked for having allowed this research in their respective Community Mental Health Services. We also thank Prof. Patrick Callaghan for helpful comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript.
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Gian Maria Galeazzi is affiliated with the Newham Rehabilitation and Recovery Team, East London and the City University Mental Health Trust, London, UK.
Gian Maria Galeazzi and Paolo Curci are affiliated with the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Andrew Mackinnon is affiliated with the Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
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Galeazzi, G.M., Mackinnon, A. & Curci, P. Constraints Perceived by Psychiatrists Working in Community Mental Health Services. Development and Pilot Study of a Novel Instrument. Community Ment Health J 43, 609–618 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-007-9099-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-007-9099-2