An assessment of the impact of community psychiatric nurse attachment to primary care upon the monitoring of patients with severe mental illness

Abstract

Community psychiatric nurse (CPN) attachment to primary care has been widely implemented in the UK. However, outcomes relating to access, quantity and type of service received by populations with severe and minor mental illness (SMI & MMI) have not been assessed or compared in a single study. We identified patients with SMI and MMI from mental health services records and a GP survey and measured whether there were differences in the service received by patients of GPs with/without attached CPNs. This analysis showed few significant differences in the proportions of SMI groups on mental health caseloads, or in contact with CPNs. No differences in GP management of anti-psychotic medication were observed. However, CPN attachment was associated with increased referral of patients with MMI. This may help to explain the absence of any consistent and significant advantage for SMI patients. More appropriate interventions for patients with MMI are needed.