Abstract
To examine the effectiveness of a low-intensity home-based aftercare service, 130 patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective
disorder or bipolar disorder were randomized to receive either home aftercare or treatment-as-usual. In home aftercare, a
general practitioner and a social worker made home visits once in a month after discharge from the hospital wherein they provided
education and treatment. In a 1-year follow-up, home aftercare led to greater reduction in rehospitalization rate, more improvement
in psychotic symptoms and global illness severity, as well as greater service satisfaction. The implementation of this low-intensity
aftercare is recommended, especially in less resourceful settings.
disorder or bipolar disorder were randomized to receive either home aftercare or treatment-as-usual. In home aftercare, a
general practitioner and a social worker made home visits once in a month after discharge from the hospital wherein they provided
education and treatment. In a 1-year follow-up, home aftercare led to greater reduction in rehospitalization rate, more improvement
in psychotic symptoms and global illness severity, as well as greater service satisfaction. The implementation of this low-intensity
aftercare is recommended, especially in less resourceful settings.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Brief Report
- Pages 1-5
- DOI 10.1007/s10597-012-9516-z
- Authors
- Vandad Sharifi, Department of Psychiatry, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, South Kargar Avenue, 13337-95914 Tehran, Iran
- Mehdi Tehranidoost, Department of Psychiatry, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, South Kargar Avenue, 13337-95914 Tehran, Iran
- Masud Yunesian, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Homayoun Amini, Department of Psychiatry, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, South Kargar Avenue, 13337-95914 Tehran, Iran
- Mohammadreza Mohammadi, Department of Psychiatry, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, South Kargar Avenue, 13337-95914 Tehran, Iran
- Mohsen Jalali Roudsari, Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Journal Community Mental Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-2789
- Print ISSN 0010-3853