Intermed from training to clinical implementation: the complex patient in different care settings

The aim of this work was to assess preliminary the effectiveness of a training program on the clinical use of INTERMED.Methods: after a group training on the use of INTERMED carried out between April and September 2009, the method was applied to 30 female patients aged between 20 and 65, subsequently referring to three clinical settings: a GP clinic; a psychiatry day-care clinic; a CLP out-patient clinic. Demographic and clinical data were collected, together with administration of HADS and WHOQol-bref.Results: the mean INTERMED score was 20.8, borderline as to definition of complex cases. Patients from the GP clinic and in the CLP setting scored lower than patients from the psychiatric day-clinic (27.8), suggesting that the presence of severe psychiatric disturbances might contribute to increasing the level of case-complexity. Concordance with results at HADS and WHOQoL was high.Conclusions: these preliminary positive results will hopefully open the way to a wider diffusion of this tool in clinical practice in the area of Modena.