The impact of geriatric post-discharge services on mental state.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the impact of geriatric post-discharge services on mental state.


METHODS
Three computer databases, MEDLINE, HealthSTAR and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for relevant articles; the bibliographies of retrieved articles were searched for additional references.


RESULTS
11 trials were located that met the four inclusion criteria: (i) original study; (ii) published in English or French; (iii) controlled trial (randomized or non-randomized) of a geriatric post-discharge service; and (iv) including at least one measure of mental state. All trials met most of the validity criteria for intervention studies of the Evidence-Based Medicine Working Group. Three trials reported a small effect on emotional state or self-perceived health and eight trials reported no effect.


CONCLUSIONS
There is little evidence that geriatric post-discharge services have an impact on the mental state of aged subjects. Future services and studies should be designed to address the issue of mental state outcomes in this population.
Cole
M G
MG
Department of Psychiatry, St Mary's Hospital Center and McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3T IM5, Canada.
D000368:Aged; D016208:Databases, Factual; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000639:trends*