Assessment of need of patients with schizophrenia: A study in Vellore, India

Abstract

Background and aims: There is a dearth of studies investigating the prevalence and factors associated with unmet needs in people with schizophrenia from low- and middle-income countries. We aimed to study prevalence and risk factors for unmet need. Method: A case-control study design was employed. One hundred and one (101) consecutive patients attending a psychiatric hospital were assessed using Camberwell Assessment of Need Short version (CANSAS) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Multivariate analysis was employed to adjust for confounders. Results: The majority of patients had many unmet needs. These unmet needs were significantly associated with lower education, poverty and persistent psychopathology on multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Unmet needs are associated with poverty, lower education and persistent psychopathology. There is a need to manage unmet needs, in addition to addressing psychopathology and poverty.