Deinstitutionalisation of mental health care in The Netherlands: towards an integrative approach

How Do Shifts in Patients with Mental Health Problems' Formal and Informal Care Utilization Affect Informal Caregivers?: A COVID-19 Case Study

(1) Background: This study investigated how potential shifts in patients' formal and informal care utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their informal caregivers in terms of their subjective burden, psychological wellbeing, and happiness. (2) Methods: A retrospective cohort study design was employed for a panel of Dutch informal caregivers of persons with mental health problems (n = 219) in June 2020. Descriptive statistics and differences between means were determined for the patients' informal and care utilization and informal caregivers' subjective burden, happiness, and psychological wellbeing. Three mediation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro. (3) Results: Informal caregivers reported significantly worse happiness and subjective burden scores during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with before the lockdown. There were minimal shifts in patient's care utilization reported, with the exception of a decrease in significant emotional and practical support provided by the informal caregiver. In the mediation analyses, there was not a significant indirect effect of shifts in patients' formal care utilization on informal caregivers' subjective burden, psychological wellbeing, and happiness through shifts in patients' informal care utilization. (4) Discussion and conclusion: Whilst we found that shifts in patients' care utilization during the first wave of the pandemic did not affect the informal caregiver in the short term, it is unclear what the long-term impact of the pandemic might be on informal caregivers. More research should be conducted to understand the implications of short- and long-term impact of substitution on informal caregivers of persons with mental health problems, with special consideration of the COVID-19 context and uptake of e-health technology.

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.

Time to readmission in psychiatric inpatients with a therapeutic leave

AIMS

Interventions to decrease readmissions in psychiatric patients are urgently needed. In Switzerland therapeutic leave (TL) composes a cornerstone of inpatient treatment. TL is a planned time-limited absence from the inpatient ward giving patients the opportunity to test their resilience in their usual environment. Evidence of its applicability as an intervention reducing readmissions is lacking. Therefore, our objective was to examine the association between TL and readmission risk.

METHODS

Using the Kaplan-Meier curve we compared the time to readmission of 3'302 inpatients at the UPK Basel with and without TL. Cox regression was applied, integrating other covariates associated with readmission.

RESULTS

The Kaplan-Meier curve indicated longer cumulative survival in patients with TL. The log-rank test implied statistical significance (χ²(1) = 18.8, p < .05). The Cox regression showed a reduced hazard for patients with TL (HR = 0.735, CI 95% = [0.639, 0.846], p < .001) and for involuntarily hospitalized patients (HR = 0.760, CI 95% = [0.618, 0.934], p < .01). A higher readmission risk was found for a history of psychiatric admissions (HR = 1.005, CI 95% = [1.004, 1.005], p < .001), higher severity of symptoms at admission (HR = 1.029, CI 95% = [1.018, 1.040], p < .001), comorbidity (HR = 1.178, CI 95% [1.024, 1.355], p = .022), and a diagnosis with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (HR = 1.401, CI 95% [1.164, 1.687], p = .001).

CONCLUSION

Linking TL with readmission risk, our results imply an easy way to improve quality of care, with possible implications for practice, policies and quality interventions. TL might be suitable to enhance recovery, reduce readmissions and health care costs. RCTs are needed for validation.

Number of long-term inpatients in Japanese psychiatric care beds: trend analysis from the patient survey and the 630 survey

BACKGROUND

The number of psychiatric care beds and the mean length of stay in psychiatric care beds in Japan have decreased over the past 10 years. However, as has long been indicated here and elsewhere, Japan lags behind other countries in terms of deinstitutionalization. Furthermore, the population of inpatients in psychiatric care beds is aging dramatically. In addition to the diversification of mental illness, the question of what measures to implement going forward regarding current psychiatric bed resources has emerged as a new challenge.

METHODS

Using data from the Patient Survey and the 630 Survey, we examined trends in the number of long-term inpatients in psychiatric care beds in Japan through 2040. Population estimation was used for estimating long-term hospital bed demand because of small fluctuations in the admission and discharge of long-term inpatients.

RESULTS

In 2017, nearly one-third of all long-term hospitalized patients were aged ≥75 years, and an estimated 47% of the total are expected to die by 2040. Thus, the overall demand for long-term hospitalization is forecast to decrease sharply due to aging of currently hospitalized long-term inpatients. The number of long-term inpatients in 2017 was 167,579, and this is projected to decrease to 103,141 in 2040.

CONCLUSIONS

We believe it is necessary to adopt a multifaceted approach to promote hospital discharge and transition to the community, and to address the diversification of mental illness and the issue of psychiatric care bed supply/availability, which are forecast to decrease due to the natural decrease in long-term inpatients.

Regional supply of outreach service and length of stay in psychiatric hospital among patients with schizophrenia: National case mix data analysis in Japan

Several clinical trials have demonstrated that linkage to an outreach service can prevent prolonged length of stay of patients at psychiatric hospitals. However, there has been no investigation of the association between length of stay in psychiatric hospital and regional supply of outreach services using national case mix data. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between length of stay in psychiatric hospital and regional supply of outreach services. We used data from the National Patient Survey in Japan, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of inpatient care conducted every three years from 1996 to 2014. Data from 42,268 patients with schizophrenia who had been admitted to psychiatric hospitals were analyzed. After controlling for patient and regional characteristics, patients in regions with fewer number of visits for psychiatric nursing care at home had significantly longer length of stay in psychiatric hospitals. This finding implies that enhancement of the regional supply of outreach services would prevent prolonged length of stay in psychiatric hospitals.

Identifying profiles of service users in housing services and exploring their quality of life and care needs

BACKGROUND

Housing services aim to support people with mental illness in their daily life and recovery. As the level of recovery differs between service users, the quality of life and care needs also might vary. However, the type and amount of care and support that service users receive do not always match their recovery. In order to improve the quality of care, this study aims to explore whether subgroups of service users exist based on three dimensions of recovery and to examine and compare the quality of life and care needs of the persons in these subgroups.

METHODS

Latent class analysis was performed with data from 263 service users of housing services in the Netherlands. Classes were based on three variables: personal recovery (Mental Health Recovery Measure), social recovery (Social Functioning Scale), and clinical recovery (Brief Symptom Inventory). Subsequently, the quality of life (MANSA) and care needs (CANSAS) of the different classes were analysed by the use of descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS

Three classes could be distinguished. Class 1 (45%) comprised of people who score the highest of the three classes in terms of personal and social recovery and who experience the least number of symptoms. People in class 2 (44%) and class 3 (11%) score significantly lower on personal and social recovery, and they experience significantly more symptoms compared to class 1. The distinction between class 2 and 3 can be made on the significantly higher number of symptoms in class 3. All three classes differ significantly on quality of life and unmet needs.

CONCLUSIONS

The quality of life of service users of housing services needs improvement, as even persons in the best-recovered subgroup have a lower quality of life than the average population. Workers of housing services need to be aware of the recovery of a client and what his or her individual needs and goals are. Furthermore, better care (allocation) concerning mental and physical health and rehabilitation is needed. Care should be provided on all dimensions of recovery at the same time, therefore mental health care organisations should work together and integrate their services.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN registry ISRCTN77355880 retrospectively registered 05/07/2013.

Local inpatient units may increase patients' utilization of outpatient services: a comparative cohort-study in Nordland County, Norway

OBJECTIVES

In the last few decades, there has been a restructuring of the psychiatric services in many countries. The complexity of these systems may represent a challenge to patients that suffer from serious psychiatric disorders. We examined whether local integration of inpatient and outpatient services in contrast to centralized institutions strengthened continuity of care.

METHODS

Two different service-systems were compared. Service-utilization over a 4-year period for 690 inpatients was extracted from the patient registries. The results were controlled for demographic variables, model of service-system, central inpatient admission or local inpatient admission, diagnoses, and duration of inpatient stays.

RESULTS

The majority of inpatients in the area with local integration of inpatient and outpatient services used both types of care. In the area that did not have beds locally, many patients that had been hospitalized did not receive outpatient follow-up. Predictors of inpatients' use of outpatient psychiatric care were: Model of service-system (centralized vs decentralized), a diagnosis of affective disorder, central inpatient admission only, and duration of inpatient stays.

CONCLUSION

Psychiatric centers with local inpatient units may positively affect continuity of care for patients with severe psychiatric disorders, probably because of a high functional integration of inpatient and outpatient care.

Farm-based interventions for people with mental disorders: a systematic review of literature

PURPOSE

Farms are increasingly used in mental healthcare. This study aimed to systematically review the evidence on the effectiveness of farm-based interventions for patients with mental disorders.

METHODS

Controlled and uncontrolled studies of farm-based interventions were included. Within- and between group effect sizes were calculated. Qualitative data were summarized using thematic synthesis. The review followed the PRISMA, Cochrane and COREQ standards.

RESULTS

The eleven articles included reported results of five studies, three of which were randomized control trials (RCTs). Overall, 223 patients with depressive disorders, schizophrenia or heterogeneous mental disorders attended three types of farms-based interventions. Favourable effects on clinical status variables were found in one study in patients with depressive disorders that did not respond to medication and/or psychotherapy, and in one RCT in patients with schizophrenia. Assessment of rehabilitative effects (functioning and quality of life) was limited and yielded conflicting results. Patients' experiences revealed that social and occupational components of interventions were perceived as beneficial, and provided insights into how farm-based interventions may facilitate recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the farm environment should be considered, especially for patients with mental disorders who do not achieve an adequate response with other treatment options. Further research is needed to clarify potential social and occupational benefits.

The Amsterdam Studies of Acute Psychiatry I (ASAP-I); a prospective cohort study of determinants and outcome of coercive versus voluntary treatment interventions in a metropolitan area

BACKGROUND

The overall number of involuntary admissions is increasing in many European countries. Patients with severe mental illnesses more often progress to stages in which acute, coercive treatment is warranted. The number of studies that have examined this development and possible consequences in terms of optimizing health care delivery in emergency psychiatry is small and have a number of methodological shortcomings. The current study seeks to examine factors associated with compulsory admissions in the Amsterdam region, taking into account a comprehensive model with four groups of predictors: patient vulnerability, social support, responsiveness of the health care system and treatment adherence.

METHODS/DESIGN

This paper describes the design of the Amsterdam Study of Acute Psychiatry-I (ASAP-I). The study is a prospective cohort study, with one and two-year follow-up, comparing patients with and without forced admission by means of a selected nested case-control design. An estimated total number of 4,600 patients, aged 18 years and over, consecutively coming into contact with the Psychiatric Emergency Service Amsterdam (PESA) are included in the study. From this cohort, a randomly selected group of 125 involuntary admitted subjects and 125 subjects receiving non-coercive treatment are selected for further evaluation and comparison.First, socio-demographic, psychopathological and network characteristics, and prior use of health services will be described for all patients who come into contact with PESA. Second, the in-depth study of compulsory versus voluntary patients will examine which patient characteristics are associated with acute compulsory admission, also taking into account social network and healthcare variables. The third focus of the study is on the associations between patient vulnerability, social support, healthcare characteristics and treatment adherence in a two-year follow-up for patients with or without involuntarily admittance at the index consultation.

DISCUSSION

The current study seeks to establish a picture of the determinants of acute compulsory admissions in the Netherlands and tries to gain a better understanding of the association with the course of illness and patient's perception of services and treatment adherence. The final aim is to find specific patient and health care factors that can be influenced by adjusting treatment programs in order to reduce the number of involuntary admissions.