T. Burns et al., Effects of case-load size on the process of care of patients with severe psychotic illness - Report from the UK700 trial, BR J PSYCHI, 177, 2000, pp. 427-433
Background Studies of intensive case management (ICM) for patients with psy
chotic illnesses have produced conflicting results in terms of outcome. Neg
ative results have sometimes been attributed to a failure to deliver differ
ing patterns of care.
Aims To test whether the actual care delivered in a randomised clinical tri
al of ICM v. standard case management (the UK700 trial) differed significan
tly.
Method Data on 545 patients' care were collected over 2 years. All patient
contacts and all other patient-centred interventions (e.g. telephone calls,
carer contacts) of over 15 minutes were prospectively recorded. Rates and
distributions of these interventions were compared.
Results Contact frequency was more than doubled in the ICM group. There wer
e proportionately more failed contacts and carer contacts but-there was no
difference in the average length of individual contacts or the proportion o
f contacts in the patients' homes.
Conclusions The failure to demonstrate outcome differences in the UK700 stu
dy is not due to a failure to vary the treatment process. UK standard care
con-rains many of the characteristics of assertive outreach services and di
fferences in outcome may require that greater attention be paid to deliveri
ng evidence-based interventions;
Declaration of interest None.