[Medical rehabilitation of patients with mental or psychosomatic disorders in austria--findings of a catamnestic study].
BACKGROUND
Medical rehabilitation of patients with mental disorders is new in Austria. A catamnestic study was performed to evaluate the effects of an inpatient treatment programme.


METHODS
355 patients were included in the study in 2003, 262 patients (73.8%) were evaluated after one year. The sample included patients with "severe mental illness" (about 25%) as well as patients with neurotic disorders.


RESULTS
Patients' symptoms and quality of life had improved. The effect sizes admission-dismissal were between 0.17 and 0.62, the effect sizes after one year were between 0.10 and 0.25. Duration of sick leave was 20.5 weeks in the year before rehabilitation and 6.5 weeks in the year after rehabilitation. Duration of hospitalization was three weeks before versus 1.5 weeks after rehabilitation. Patients who had been employed at admission had a good chance to remain on the job (65.8%). Disease-related factors did not predict treatment outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
A medical rehabilitation concept showed positive therapy outcomes for patients with severe mental illness as well as for patients with neurotic disorders.
Haberfellner
E M
EM
Rehabilitationszentrum für psychosoziale Gesundheit Sonnenpark, Bad Hall. haberfellnerem@promenteooe.at
Jungmayr
J
J
Grausgruber-Berner
R
R
Grausgruber
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001317:Austria; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data