Reflections on facilitated discharge from a mental health service

Objective: The aim of this paper is to review research evidence and describe our experience of facilitated discharge from mental health services to primary care. Method: A literature review of facilitated discharge was conducted. In addition, the clinical characteristics of 21 discharged and 21 non-...

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Published in:Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2009-06, Vol.17 (3), p.195-201
Main Authors: Jespersen, Sean, Chong, Terence, Donegan, Tony, Gray, Kelly, Kudinoff, Teresa, McGain, Leanne, Gant, Deborah
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Female
Health Care Surveys
Humans
Male
Medical practitioners
Mental Disorders - diagnosis
Mental Disorders - psychology
Mental Disorders - therapy
Mental health services
Mental Health Services - standards
Mental Health Services - statistics & numerical data
Patient Discharge - standards
Patient Satisfaction
Patients
Primary care
Psychiatry
Psychology
Referral and Consultation
Retrospective Studies
Schizophrenia
Socioeconomic Factors
Surveys
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Objective: The aim of this paper is to review research evidence and describe our experience of facilitated discharge from mental health services to primary care. Method: A literature review of facilitated discharge was conducted. In addition, the clinical characteristics of 21 discharged and 21 non-discharged patients from one shared care service were compared in a retrospective file review. Thirty-one patients in another facilitated discharge program were surveyed. Results: Discharged patients had a higher level of function. There was a trend towards discharged patients being female and employed with less chronic illness, involuntary treatment, behavioural symptoms, depot medication, triage contact, service contact with family, and more mood disorder. Of the 10 survey respondents, 60% reported feeling better compared with their last service contact, 70% felt not having contact was a good thing and most saw their doctors regularly and reported a good relationship. Conclusions: There was a trend towards more stable patients being discharged and it appeared that they responded positively to this, without a clear indication of which factors best determine suitability for discharge. Consequently, we elected to incorporate discharge planning processes as a core function of case management and increase shared care with the primary care sector.
ISSN:1039-8562
1440-1665
DOI:10.1080/10398560802666067