Minimizing adverse effects on patients of involuntary relocation from long-stay wards to community residences.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the incidence of, and variables associated with, relocation trauma among 85 patients who moved from long-stay psychiatric wards to community care units as part of a hospital closure in Melbourne, Australia.


METHODS
Some participants moved directly from wards and some moved first to transitional units on the hospital grounds. Preparation for the transition, such as visits to the community care unit before the move, was documented, and severity of symptoms, aggressive behaviors, and preferences for living environments one month before and one month after the move were compared. Relocation trauma was measured one month after the move. After significant factors associated with trauma were determined, additional tests further discriminated these factors.


RESULTS
Although 66 percent of participants were happy with community care units one month after the move, 18 percent preferred hospital living. Of 81 participants who had data on relocation trauma, 20, or 25 percent, met relocation trauma criteria. Preparation in a transitional unit reduced the likelihood of trauma, as did making six or more premove visits to the new facility and having a preparation period of more than 16 weeks. When preparation in a transitional unit, number of premove visits, and duration of preparation were considered together, only the number of premove visits and duration of preparation remained significantly associated with relocation trauma.


CONCLUSIONS
Adverse effects of relocation on long-stay psychiatric patients may be minimized by the preparation of patients over a period of four months or more, with inclusion of six or more visits to the new facility. Moving via a transitional environment is not essential.
Farhall
John
J
School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia. jfarhall@latrobe.edu.au
Trauer
Tom
T
Newton
Richard
R
Cheung
Peter
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006271:Health Facility Closure; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010360:Patient Transfer; D012114:Residential Treatment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012931:Social Environment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology