title: The long-term effect on mental health symptoms and patient activation of using patient feedback scales in mental health out-patient treatment. A randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the long-term effect on mental health symptoms and patient activation, from using the Partners for Change Outcome Management System (PCOMS) feedback scales in out-patient mental health consultations, compared to not using feedback scales.
  
  
  METHODS
  An open parallel-group randomised controlled trial was conducted in a mental health hospital in Norway. Eight therapists treated the intervention group, using two feedback scales, and seventeen therapists treated the treatment as usual group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-five patients participated. Six and twelve months after starting treatment there were no significant effects on the primary outcomes mental health symptoms or patient activation. Compared to baseline assessment the PCOMS group had significantly improved their patient activation scores after twelve months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no long-term effects from using the PCOMS scales on mental health symptoms or patient activation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that the use of a feedback system does not increase mental health outcomes or patient activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: marit.b.rise@ntnu.no.
authors.forename: Marit By
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Rise
authors.affiliation: Nidaros Community Mental Health Centre, St. Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Lasse
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eriksen
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grimstad
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Aslak
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steinsbekk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Mental health care; Outcome assessment; Patient participation; Professional–patient relations