The daily living programme. Preliminary comparison of community versus hospital-based treatment for the seriously mentally ill facing emergency admission.
Patients with a serious mental illness requiring admission were randomised to home care or standard hospital care. Over the initial 18 months, 60 patients entered each group and were studied for a mean of 10 months. Home care reduced hospital use by 80%, with patients being admitted for a mean of 14 days, compared with 72 days for the standard group, but this bed-saving made no difference in direct treatment costs. Home care offers individualised treatment, and many patients require continuing support with the emphasis on areas such as finances and housing.
Muijen
M
M
Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, London.
Marks
I M
IM
Connolly
J
J
Audini
B
B
McNamee
G
G
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006699:Home Care Services; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology