Fewer re-admissions and bed days following an intensive transitional post-discharge aftercare programme for a mixed diagnostic group of patients

Abstract

Background: The organization of aftercare is important for a successful outcome; still the optimal organization has not been fully explored. An intensive transitional post-discharge aftercare (TA) programme, for a mixed group of non-psychotic patients, was recently developed. Patients with non-psychotic diagnoses are often discharged with low well-being while still symptomatic, placing high demands on aftercare. Aims: To evaluate retrospectively the short and long-term mental healthcare service use during and after the TA programme compared with the service use of a retrospective comparison group (RC), receiving less intensive outpatient aftercare. Methods: Number of re-admissions, bed days and emergency visits after 10 weeks, 6 months and 1 year was retrospectively collected from electronic patient registers. Descriptive statistics, independent samples T-tests and repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to compare the groups. Results: The majority of patients in both groups suffered from affective disorders, followed by personality disorders and a small number of other psychiatric diagnoses. Service use in the TA group was lower than in the RC group with fewer bed days after 10 weeks (P = 0.01) and after 6 months (P = 0.003), and fewer re-admissions after 6–12 months (P = 0.04). Emergency contacts did not differ significantly between the two groups at any point. Conclusions: The present study indicates beneficial effects of intensive TA, for a mixed group of non-psychotic patients. The lower service use in the TA programme group is in line with day treatment programme research for patients with affective disorders.

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Non-psychotic
• Personality disorder
• Service use

Acknowledgements

All authors were, at the time of the study, employed at PCB, The Mental Health Services in the Capital region, Denmark. The study received funding (10.000 DKK) from the Mental Health Services in the Capital region, Denmark. Thanks to the IPA-O team and medical secretary Birgit Vinther at PCB, Denmark.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper