title: Does a home treatment acute relapse prevention strategy reduce admissions for people with mania in bipolar affective disorder?
abstract: Aims and method To assess whether a home treatment team acute relapse prevention (ARP) strategy reduces admissions to hospital with mania. A retrospective design was used to analyse records for manic admissions since 2002. The number and length of admissions and detentions pre- and post-ARP were determined and rates of admissions and detentions calculated from this. Results We found reductions in admission and detention rates following the introduction of the ARP: 0.3 fewer admissions per person per year (95% bootstrap CI 0.09-0.62) and 0.25 fewer detentions per person per year (95% bootstrap CI 0.0-0.48). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests gave P<0.0001. Clinical implications A person-centred care plan such as the ARP which enables quick action in response to relapse-warning signs of mania appears to reduce rates of admission to hospital. The ARP could be used anywhere in the UK and fits with current mental health policy.
authors.affiliation: Plymouth Community Healthcare.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murton
authors.affiliation: Plymouth Community Healthcare.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Plymouth Community Healthcare.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dinniss
authors.affiliation: Plymouth Community Healthcare.
authors.forename: Shon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Plymouth Community Healthcare.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.affiliation: Plymouth University.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Newell