Clinical case management of revolving door patients - a semi-randomized study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of psychiatric clinical case management.


METHODS
Subjects with at least three admissions in the previous 2 years were randomized into a clinical case management group (CMG; n = 122) and a standard care group (SCG; n = 95). Individuals who refused or were not located were included in a third, non-randomized no-treatment group (NTG; n = 153). Parameters assessed included utilization of in-patient services and psychosocial functioning.


RESULTS
We found no difference between the CMG and the SCG in psychosocial functioning as evaluated by interviewers, and no difference between the three groups in hospitalization. In subjects' self-ratings, the CMG showed slight improvement in psychosocial functioning.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical case management did not prove itself superior to standard care in a revolving door population.
Lichtenberg
P
P
Department of Psychiatry, Herzog Hospital, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel. licht@cc.huji.ac.il
Levinson
D
D
Sharshevsky
Y
Y
Feldman
D
D
Lachman
M
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019090:Case Management / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014600:Utilization Review