Efficacy of psychiatric day treatment. Course and outcome of psychiatric disorders in a randomised trial.
The course of the psychopathology and social functioning in an experimental day-treatment group referred for inpatient psychiatric treatment is compared with that of a control group receiving standard inpatient care. During a follow-up period of 2 years subjects were interviewed three times. The interview comprised information about psychiatric symptoms, psychological functions, psychiatric diagnosis and social-role functioning. Apart from these discrete assessments an effort was made to map episodes of illness throughout the follow-up period. Upon entry the groups did not differ in terms of psychopathology or social functioning. At follow-up both groups had improved significantly with respect to symptomatology, psychological and social functioning. The extent to which the groups improved did not differ significantly regarding pathology, but self-care improved more in the experimental group. The average duration of episodes of illness was similar for the experimental and control group. During the 2-year follow-up patients suffered from a well-defined disorder during an average of 11 months. The fact that approximately 40% of them were still a psychiatric case after 2 years further underscores the severity of their pathology.
Nienhuis
F J
FJ
Department of Social Psychiatry, R.U. Groningen, Academisch Ziekenhuis, The Netherlands.
Giel
R
R
Kluiter
H
H
Rüphan
M
M
Wiersma
D
D
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation