Continuity of care for people with non-psychotic disorders

• Published in: International journal of social psychiatry 2013-02, Vol.59 (1), p.18-27
• Main Authors: Catty, Jocelyn, Cowan, Naomi, Poole, Zoe, Clement, Sarah, Ellis, Gemma, Geyer, Connie, Lissouba, Pascale, Molodynski, Andrew, White, Sarah, Burns, Tom
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Chronic Disease; Cohort Studies; Community Mental Health Centers; Community mental health services; Community services; Continuity of Patient Care; Demographic aspects; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health care; Health services; Health Services Needs and Demand; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Mental disorders; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Mental Disorders - psychology; Mental Disorders - therapy; Mental health; Mental health care; Mental illness; Mentally ill people; Middle Aged; Patient Care Team; Patient Discharge; Psychoses; Psychotic Disorders - diagnosis; Psychotic Disorders - psychology; Psychotic Disorders - therapy; Quality of care; Quality of Life - psychology; Social Adjustment; Social functioning; Social psychiatry; Teams; Transitions; Treatment Outcome; United Kingdom; Variables
• ISSN: 0020-7640; 1741-2854
• DOI: 10.1177/0020764011421442

Background: Service users with non-psychotic disorders are rarely studied. How continuity of care functions for this group is unknown. Aims: To compare users of community mental health teams with non-psychotic disorders to those with psychotic disorders in terms of demographic and illness characteristics, continuity of care and clinical and social functioning. Methods: Service users with non-psychotic disorders (N = 98) were followed up for one year and compared to 180 service users with psychotic disorders. Continuity of care factors were tested for association with user, illness and service variables. Results: Service users with non-psychotic disorders experienced more care transitions, but there were no differences in team practices in relation to these two different groups. Conclusion: The underlying concepts of continuity of care derived from users with psychotic disorders appear to be meaningful for users with non-psychotic disorders. Their greater likelihood of experiencing disruptive and distressing care transitions needs to be addressed.