Pattern of care for schizophrenia patients in Granada (Spain): a case register study.
OBJECTIVE
This study sets out to explore the use flow of mental health services by a cohort of patients with schizophrenia located in Granada (Spain).


METHODS
All cases (N = 844) included in the analysis were users of the community mental healthcare public service provided in the area. The Markov chain model was used to calculate the probability of transition from one type of contact with mental health services resources to another type of contact in the next month, over a three-year follow-up.


RESULTS
For a given one-month period, for each level of service contact, most patients continued to use the same level of care.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results can be interpreted as a reflection of adequate continuity of mental health care provided by the Andalusian community service.
Moreno
B
B
Department of Psychiatry, Andalusian Group for Mental Health Research (GAISAM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Spain. bertamk@ugr.es
Cervilla
J
J
Luna
J D
JD
Torres
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008390:Markov Chains; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011336:Probability; D017150:Public Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012042:Registries; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013030:Spain; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data