245 Summary What are the risk factors regarding oral health among patients undergoing their first psychotic episode, and how do they perceive their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) compared to individuals without a history of psychotic disorders? (Chapter 3) In Chapter 3, we report a case–control study comparing 81 patients who have experienced their first psychotic episode with 166 individuals without a psychotic disorder from the general population (control group). The groups were matched by age, gender, and education level to examine differences in their oral health-related quality of life. This quantitative methodology allowed us to investigate whether oral health constitutes a public health issue among young adults or if it disproportionately affects patients following their first psychotic episode, thus falling under the purview of mental health services. The results indicated that patients who had experienced a psychotic episode had significantly more risk factors for poor oral health, including smoking, greater consumption of sugary foods and drinks, less frequent or inadequate teeth brushing, and insufficient funds to afford dental care products or services (such as visiting a dentist when issues arise). In total, 15% of patients who had experienced a psychotic episode reported poor quality of life due to their oral health compared to only 2% in the control group. The likelihood of the risk factors negatively impacting on quality of life was almost ten times higher in patients post-first psychosis than in the control group. These findings highlight the importance of taking (additional) preventive measures to improve the oral health of these patients. MHNs have an important role in supporting and improving patients’ oral health, as they can motivate patients or provide guidance. However, currently, there are no standardized or in-use interventions available for mental health services to adopt. Thus, an investigation of potentially effective interventions reported in the literature aimed at improving the oral health of patients with psychotic disorders was defined as the crucial next step in light of these findings.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTk4NDMw