Effectiveness and predictors of outcome in routine out-patient mental health care for older adults.
BACKGROUND
Meta-analyses show efficacy of several psychological and pharmacological interventions for late-life psychiatric disorders, but generalization of effects to routine mental health care for older people remains unknown. Aim of this study is to investigate the improvement of functioning within one year of referral to an outpatient mental health clinic for older adults.


METHODS
Pre-post measurement of the Health of Nations Outcome Scale 65+ (HoNOS 65+) in 704 older people referred for psychiatric problems (no dementia) to any of the seven participating mental health care organizations.


RESULTS
The pre-post-test Cohen's d effect size was 1.08 in the total group and 1.23 in depressed patients, the largest subgroup. Linear regression identified better functioning at baseline, comorbid personality disorder, somatic comorbidity and life events during treatment as determinants of a worse outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Functioning of older persons with psychiatric problems largely improves after treatment in routine mental health care.
Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction (Trimbos Institute), Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Marjolein A
MA
Veerbeek
University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Groningen, the Netherlands.
Richard C
RC
Oude Voshaar
Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction (Trimbos Institute), Utrecht, The Netherlands.|Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.|School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Anne Margriet
AM
Pot
D006801:Humans; D000368:Aged; D008297:Male; D005260:Female; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D008605:Mental Health Services; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D015897:Comorbidity
effectiveness; mental health care; older adults; outcome