Early Intervention Programme for Young Adults in Northern Italy: A 10-Year Analysis of Socio-Demographic and Clinical Characteristics

Abstract

Introduction

Early intervention represents an opportunity to contain psychological distress and intervene promptly on conditions that, otherwise, could assume a chronic course. Based on these observations, an early intervention programme for people 18–25 years old, the ‘Progetto Giovani’ (Youth Project), was implemented in two adult mental health services (AMHSs) in the northwest of Italy.

Methods

This study aims to describe the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients included in the Youth Project from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2022. A retrospective observational design was used.

Results

In 10 years, 323 patients were taken into care. More than half (56.3%) were females; the mean age was 20.7 years (SD 2.3). The most frequent diagnosis was anxiety disorder (38%). Seventy per cent of subjects benefitted from psychological treatment, and 60.8% had a pharmacological prescription. In 87.8% of cases, the care pathway was ≤ 24 months, and more than two-thirds of the subjects did not go to another AMHS after discharge. More than 90% of subjects did not require hospitalisation in the psychiatric diagnostic and treatment service.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that early intervention programmes may be a valuable tool for AMHSs to improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden on the healthcare system.