First episode of psychosis - an audit of service engagement and management at 1-2 year follow-up.
BACKGROUND
The study aimed to develop and implement local audit standards for management and service engagement in the follow-up of patients suffering from a 'first episode of psychosis'.


METHODS
Audit standards, developed following a literature review and consultation with colleagues, were incorporated into a questionnaire for distribution to the community keyworkers of a 'first episode of psychosis' cohort at 1-2 years of follow-up.


RESULTS
Most satisfied standards for engagement (91%) and maintenance medication (91%). Forty-two to sixty-three per cent had received psychological, family and educational interventions but these often lacked theoretical basis and detailed content. Admission, deliberate self-harm and forensic contacts were infrequent. Less than half had any structured daytime activity. Priorities identified for improving services for this group include adequate staff training in psychosocial interventions and more active planning and resourcing of day care and other constructive daytime activities.


CONCLUSIONS
Simple locally-developed audit standards such as those described for a 'first episode of psychosis' population can offer a useful way of assessing service delivery and highlighting areas for development.
Milner
E C
EC
Community Health Care Services (North Derbyshire) N. H. S. Trust, UK. e.milner@sheffield.ac.uk
Rowlands
P
P
Gardner
B
B
Ashby
F
F
D015331:Cohort Studies; D003191:Comprehensive Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D017050:Episode of Care; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D006113:United Kingdom