Journal de la dépression et de l'anxiété
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Risk of Psychiatric Morbidity among the Medical and Nursing Staff of a Greek Public General Hospital

Aristotelis Koinis

Background: Psychiatric morbidity follows a slow and gradual course, resulting in chronic psychiatric conditions among healthcare professionals, such as professional burnout. A significant number of healthcare professionals suffer from some kind of mental illness, and sometimes a very serious one. The aim of the present study was to investigate the risk of psychiatric morbidity among the medical and nursing staff of a public medium-sized general hospital. Methods: One medium-sized local general hospital took part in the study. A total number of 201 medical and nursing professionals aged 21-58 years comprised the sample of the study. A research protocol was submitted to the scientific committee of the Hospital, which in its turn granted approval. A questionnaire that investigates psychiatric morbidity, its Greek standardized version that is, was used as our instrument of choice and it was tested for validity and reliability which were found to be satisfactory (Cronbach's a= 0,883). Strict anonymity was observed. The SPSS 16.0 was used for the statistical analysis. Results: Psychiatric morbidity can have an impact on people's quality of life; elements of anxiety are the main risk factor in all four quality of life Domains included in the WHOQOL-BREF instrument. Somatization is also a risk factor regarding Domain 1 (physical health and level of independence). Elements of stress and distress are nothing but common in the medical/nursing staff that participated in this study. Conclusions: All relevant studies eventually aim at developing appropriate psychosocial interventions, both preventive and supportive, for this particular group of professionals.