An empirical evaluation of recovery transformation at a large community psychiatric rehabilitation organization

The effects of supported housing for individuals with mental disorders

Societies face the challenge of providing appropriate arrangements for individuals who need living support due to their mental disorders. We estimate the effects of eligibility to the Dutch supported housing program (Beschermd Wonen), which offers a structured living environment in the community as an intermediate alternative to independent housing and inpatient care. For this, we use exogenous variation in eligibility based on conditionally random assignment of applications to assessors, and the universe of applications to supported housing in the Netherlands, linked to rich administrative data. Supported housing eligibility increases the probability of moving into supported housing and decreases the use of home care, resulting in higher total care expenditures. This increase is primarily due to the costs of supported housing, but potentially also higher consumption of curative mental health care. Supported housing eligibility reduces the total personal income and income from work. Findings do also suggest lower participation in the labor market by the individuals granted eligibility, but the labor participation of their parents increases in the long-run. Our study highlights the trade-offs of access to supported housing for those at the margin of eligibility, informing the design of long-term mental health care systems around the world.

Models and frameworks of mental health recovery: a scoping review of the available literature

BACKGROUND

The recovery approach involves providing a holistic and integrated service that is centered on and adapts to the aspirations and needs of consumers, who are seen as the expert on their health and well-being. Evidence is needed to address the current ambiguities related to the concept of recovery and its application.

AIM

A scoping review was conducted to identify papers describing theories, models, and frameworks of recovery to delineate the central domains of recovery.

METHODS

Three literature search strategies were used: electronic database searching; hand-searching of key journals; and a reference list review of included papers. Inclusion criteria outlined theories, models and frameworks developed to support consumers' recovery and those supporting mental health professionals (MHPs) to deliver recovery-oriented services.

RESULTS

Twelve studies (eleven articles and one book) were included in the review. The dimensions of recovery were synthesized into a framework named the Consolidated Framework for Recovery-oriented Services (CFRS). There are three domains within the framework: mechanisms/strategies; recovery as an internal process; and recovery as an external process. Each of these domains, as well as their relationships, are discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

The CFRS can be used by practitioners, researchers, funders, and collaborative members to conceptualize, implement, and evaluate recovery-oriented services.

The foundations of the working alliance in assertive community treatment teams

BACKGROUND

In this study, we aimed to identify and define the fundamental components of the working alliance in multidisciplinary (Flexible) Assertive Community Treatment teams with shared caseloads, in order to support their daily practice and further research.

METHODS

After reviewing the literature, concept mapping with professionals and clients was used to define the working alliance in (F) ACT teams. The resulting concept maps formed the basis for the working alliance assessment instrument, which was pilot tested with professionals and clients through cognitive interviews with a think-aloud procedure.

RESULTS

The study led to the development of a twenty five-item assessment instrument to evaluate working alliances in multidisciplinary teams (WAM) that was comprised of three subscales: bond, task/goal and team. Two different versions were developed for clients and professionals.

CONCLUSIONS

The WAM instrument was developed to determine the quality of the working alliance in (F) ACT teams. Future research will focus on testing its psychometric properties and predictive value.

An Integrative Review of Recovery Services to Improve the Lives of Adults Living with Severe Mental Illness

There is an increasing call for recovery-oriented services but few reviews have been undertaken regarding such interventions. This review aims to synthesize evidence on recovery services to improve the lives of adults living with severe mental illness. An integrative review methodology was used. We searched published literature from seven databases: Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus. Mixed-methods synthesis was used to analyse the data. Out of 40 included papers, 62.5% (25/40) used quantitative data, 32.5% used qualitative and 5% (2/40) used mixed methods. The participants in the included papers were mostly adults with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. This review identified three recovery-oriented services—integrated recovery services, individual placement services and recovery narrative photovoice and art making. The recovery-oriented services are effective in areas such as medication and treatment adherence, improving functionality, symptoms reduction, physical health and social behaviour, self-efficacy, economic empowerment, social inclusion and household integration. We conclude that mental health professionals are encouraged to implement the identified recovery services to improve the recovery goals of consumers.

Modeling Relationships Involving Perceived Recovery Orientation of Mental Health Teams Among Quebec Mental Health Professionals

While mental health (MH) services are expected to support client recovery, very little is known about services provided by MH teams in relation to this goal. This study explored relationships between a comprehensive collection of team effectiveness variables and the perspectives of MH professionals regarding the recovery orientation of their teams. A model developed by path analysis revealed eight team-related variables that were significantly and positively associated with recovery-oriented teams: primary care versus specialized MH services; greater proportions of clients with severe mental disorders or with suicide ideation on caseloads; knowledge sharing and knowledge production among team members; team climate; work role performance; and trust in coworkers. Results underline the importance of building knowledge and professional competence on MH teams, and the need for a positive team climate that offers flexibility and innovation for addressing the complex needs of people in MH recovery living in the community.

Recovery services and expectation of consumers and mental health professionals in community-based residential facilities of Ghana

BACKGROUND

In the past decades, considerable global attention has been drawn to recovery services that seek to promote the personal recovery journey of consumers with mental illness. However, in most settings, including Ghana, limited empirical studies have attempted to explore, from the perspectives of Mental Health Professionals (MHPs) and consumers, the effectiveness of recovery services and expectation towards the recovery. This study, therefore, explored consumers' and MHPs perspectives concerning recovery services and expectations towards recovery in two community-based residential facilities in Ghana.

METHODS

A qualitative method, involving in-depth interviews and observations, were used to collect data from 24 participants (5 MHPs and 19 consumers). Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

The study identified three global themes and nine organizing themes. The global themes were recovery services offered to consumers, expectation regarding personal recovery and challenges in achieving recovery. The study found that recovery services were expected to improve the internal and external recovery processes of consumers. The internal recovery process was independent living whilst the external recovery process were management of illness, economic empowerment and social inclusion. Several systemic and consumer-related factors influenced consumers' and MHPs expectation concerning the recovery journey.

CONCLUSION

The study concludes that the government should prioritize the use of recovery services through policies, financial incentives, infrastructure support, and adequate training of MHPs.

Knowledge and attitudes of mental health professionals and students regarding recovery: A systematic review

This review was conducted to synthesize and critically appraise the literature on knowledge, attitudes, understanding, perceptions, and expectations of mental health professionals (MHPs) and mental health professional (MHP) students' regarding recovery. A systematic search in Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Medline, and Embase as well as Google scholar and web-based repositories was conducted. The searches were conducted using a combination of key terms: "mental health professionals", "students", 'knowledge', "understanding", "perception" "attitude", "expectation", "recovery". After screening and quality assessment, the review included 29 studies (18 quantitative, 8 qualitative, and 3 mixed-method studies) published in English, from January 2006 to June 2019, and was analysed systematically using a mixed-method synthesis. The findings revealed that there is increasing evidence (especially among MHPs) of knowledge, attitudes, understanding, perceptions, and expectations regarding recovery. However, there are disparities in how MHPs perceive and understand recovery. While some understood it to mean a personal process, others explained it as a clinical process. In addition, there was limited knowledge among the MHPs and MHP students regarding the nonlinearity nature of the recovery process and expectations regarding recovery. The implications from these findings are the need for more in-service training for MHPs, and examination of the curriculum used to educate MHP students. In particular, they should be sufficiently informed about the nonlinearity nature of the recovery process and how to develop hopeful and realistic expectations for consumers throughout the recovery process. The review was preregistered with PROSPERO (Registration No: CRD42019136543).

Brief Psychoeducation Program to Enhance Recovery Knowledge and Attitudes of Mental Health Service Providers and Users: Randomized Controlled Trials

Recovery-oriented transformation of mental health service systems not only necessitates changes in mental health policies and practices, it also requires an adoption of recovery-oriented mindset, which includes knowledge and attitudes, among service providers. It is also important that service users are informed about the changes and can fully participate in the process. The present study developed and evaluated the efficacy of a recovery psychoeducation program in enhancing recovery-oriented knowledge and attitudes among mental health service providers and users in Hong Kong. In study 1, 111 service providers were randomly assigned to 2-day psychoeducation group or control group. Results showed that participants in psychoeducation group had significantly better recovery knowledge and more positive attitudes towards recovery after the intervention than the control counterparts. The effect of the recovery psychoeducation program on recovery attitudes was fully mediated by the improvement in recovery knowledge. In study 2, 93 people with mental illness were randomized into 2-week psychoeducation group or control group. Participants in the psychoeducation group had a significant improvement in the level of recovery-oriented knowledge immediately after the workshops, but the effect could not be sustained at follow-up. To transform into a recovery-oriented service system, having an effective program to orient service providers and users to recovery is essential. This study provided initial support to the use of a brief psychoeducational program for recovery-oriented knowledge enhancement. Given the short-term efficacy and feasibility of the interventions, service leaders and managers in different clinical and social service settings should consider implementing the programs as part of staff and users' service orientation to build a recovery-supporting workforce and empower their service users early in the recovery process.

The Effectiveness of Mental Health Rehabilitation Services: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis

Introduction: Mental health rehabilitation services provide essential support to people with complex and longer term mental health problems. They include inpatient services and community teams providing clinical input to people living in supported accommodation services. This systematic review included international studies evaluating the effectiveness of inpatient and community rehabilitation services. Methods: We searched six online databases for quantitative studies evaluating mental health rehabilitation services that reported on one or both of two outcomes: move-on to a more independent setting (i.e. discharge from an inpatient unit to the community or from a higher to lower level of supported accommodation); inpatient service use. The search was further expanded by screening references and citations of included studies. Heterogeneity between studies was too great to allow meta-analysis and therefore a narrative synthesis was carried out. Results: We included a total of 65 studies, grouped as: contemporary mental health rehabilitation services (n = 34); services for homeless people with severe mental health problems (n = 13); deinstitutionalization programmes (n = 18). The strongest evidence was for services for homeless people. Access to inpatient rehabilitation services was associated with a reduction in acute inpatient service use post discharge. Fewer than one half of people moved on from higher to lower levels of supported accommodation within expected timeframes. Conclusions: Inpatient and community rehabilitation services may reduce the need for inpatient service use over the long term but more high quality research of contemporary rehabilitation services with comparison groups is required. Review registration: This review was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (ID: CRD42019133579).

Work-related variables associated with perceptions of recovery-oriented care among Quebec mental health professionals

BACKGROUND

Provider working conditions are important in mental health service delivery.

AIMS

To identify variables associated with perceived recovery-oriented care among mental health professionals.

METHOD

A total of 315 mental health professionals and 41 managers across four Quebec service networks completed questionnaires. Univariate and multilevel mixed-effects linear regressions for bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using independent variables from the input-mediator-output-input model and recovery-oriented care.

RESULTS

Recovery-oriented care related to: working in primary care or out-patient mental health services, team support, team interdependence, prevalence of individuals with suicide ideation, knowledge-sharing, team reflexivity, trust, vision (a subset of team climate), belief in multidisciplinary collaboration and frequency of interaction with other organisations.

CONCLUSIONS

Optimising team processes (for example knowledge-sharing) and emergent states (for example trust) may enhance recovery-oriented care. Adequate financial and other resources, stable team composition, training on recovery best practices and use of standardised assessment tools should be promoted, while strengthening primary care and interactions with other organisations.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

None.

Mental health supported accommodation services: a systematic review of mental health and psychosocial outcomes

BACKGROUND

Post-deinstitutionalisation, mental health supported accommodation services have been implemented widely. The available research evidence is heterogeneous in nature and resistant to synthesis attempts, leaving researchers and policy makers with no clear summary what works and for whom. In this context, we undertook a comprehensive systematic review of quantitative studies in order to synthesise the current evidence on mental health and psychosocial outcomes for individuals residing in mental health supported accommodation services.

METHODS

Using a combination of electronic database searches, hand searches, forward-backward snowballing and article recommendations from an expert panel, 115 papers were identified for review. Data extraction and quality assessments were conducted, and 33 articles were excluded due to low quality, leaving 82 papers in the final review. Variation in terminology and service characteristics made the comparison of service models unfeasible. As such, findings were presented according to the following sub-groups: 'Homeless', 'Deinstitutionalisation' and 'General Severe Mental Illness (SMI)'.

RESULTS

Results were mixed, reflecting the heterogeneity of the supported accommodation literature, in terms of research quality, experimental design, population, service types and outcomes assessed. There is some evidence that supported accommodation is effective across a range of psychosocial outcomes. The most robust evidence supports the effectiveness of the permanent supported accommodation model for homeless SMI in generating improvements in housing retention and stability, and appropriate use of clinical services over time, and for other forms of supported accommodation for deinstitutionalised populations in reducing hospitalisation rates and improving appropriate service use. The evidence base for general SMI populations is less developed, and requires further research.

CONCLUSIONS

A lack of high-quality experimental studies, definitional inconsistency and poor reporting continue to stymie our ability to identify effective supported accommodation models and practices. The authors recommend improved reporting standards and the prioritisation of experimental studies that compare outcomes across different service models.

Why do mental health consumers who receive rehabilitation services, are not using them? A Qualitative Investigation of Users' Perspectives in Israel

A recovery-oriented approach to mental health involves creating person centered services and enhancing engagement in psychiatric rehabilitation. Israel's Rehabilitation in the Community of Persons with Mental Disabilities Law is a progressive initiative that shifted the locus of psychiatric care to community care supporting individualized rehabilitation and recovery-oriented processes. Yet over a quarter of applicants do not implement their assigned rehabilitation plans and services. This qualitative study investigated reasons and experiences related to lack of utilization from applicants' perspectives. Fifteen service users were interviewed face to face in semi-structured interviews analyzed using Grounded theory approach. Seven categories emerged: (1) Lack of knowledge and orientation; (2) Negative perceptions about rehabilitation services (3) Lack of active participation/shared decision-making; (4) Not feeling heard by the committee; (5) Lack of congruence between participants' goals and committee's final decisions; (6) Lack of escorting professionals' competencies; and (7) Family members' influence. The results are interpreted at the structural and human process levels. Suggestions are provided for augmenting systemic procedures and human interactions processes.

Psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Recovery Attitudes Questionnaire (RAQ) among mental health providers: a questionnaire survey

BACKGROUND

"Recovery" is a central concept in mental health, particularly for mental health services and policy-makers. The present study examined the factorial and concurrent validity, internal consistency reliability, and test-retest reliability of the Japanese version of the 7-item Recovery Attitudes Questionnaire (RAQ) among mental health service providers in community and inpatient settings in Japan.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire with a number of eligible professional groups, including psychiatrists, registered/assistant nurses, public health nurses, clinical psychologists, pharmacists, occupational therapists, and social workers. Participants were drawn from two psychiatric hospitals and 56 psychiatric clinics or community service agencies. In total, 331 participants completed the questionnaire. After excluding those with missing RAQ values, 307 participants were included in the analysis; the participants' mean age was 40.2 years and 29.6 % were men. The questionnaire comprised the Japanese version of the 7-item RAQ developed by the present authors, the revised scale of the positive attitudes of staff toward persons with mental disorder (the positive attitudes scale), and the Japanese-language version of the Social Distance Scale (SDSJ). Confirmatory factor analyses were used to examine factorial validity of a two-factor structure reported in a previous study (Borkin et al., 2000) as well as a single-factor structure. Concurrent validity was determined by calculating correlations between RAQ and the other two scales. Internal consistency reliability was assessed with Cronbach's alpha coefficients and inter-item correlations. Test-retest reliability was assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), with a weighted kappa in a subsample of participants (n = 13).

RESULTS

The two-factor structure showed acceptable factorial validity. RAQ scores were significantly and positively correlated with the positive attitudes scale, and there was a significant inverse correlation with the SDSJ (p < 0.01). The RAQ had an overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.64. Four inter-item correlations were not significant. The ICC and weighted kappa values indicated unsatisfactory test-retest reliability.

CONCLUSION

The Japanese RAQ showed acceptable factorial validity, reasonable concurrent validity, and unsatisfactory reliability in community and inpatient mental health settings in Japan. Further large-scale research is required to ensure robust verification.