title: Effectiveness of a low-intensity home-based aftercare for patients with severe mental disorders: a 12-month randomized controlled study.
abstract: To examine the effectiveness of a low-intensity home-based aftercare service, 130 patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder were randomized to receive either home aftercare or treatment-as-usual. In home aftercare, a general practitioner and a social worker made home visits once in a month after discharge from the hospital wherein they provided education and treatment. In a 1-year follow-up, home aftercare led to greater reduction in rehospitalization rate, more improvement in psychotic symptoms and global illness severity, as well as greater service satisfaction. The implementation of this low-intensity aftercare is recommended, especially in less resourceful settings.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, South Kargar Avenue, 13337-95914, Tehran, Iran. vsharifi@tums.ac.ir
authors: Vandad
authors: V
authors: Sharifi
authors: Mehdi
authors: M
authors: Tehranidoost
authors: Masud
authors: M
authors: Yunesian
authors: Homayoun
authors: H
authors: Amini
authors: Mohammadreza
authors: M
authors: Mohammadi
authors: Mohsen
authors: M
authors: Jalali Roudsari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult