HOSPITAL VS OUTREACH TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH MENTAL-RETARDATION AND PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS - A CONTROLLED-STUDY

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of speciali zed hospital treatment vs. outreach treatment of patients with mental retardation and serious mental illness. A total of 50 patients were ra ndomly assigned to either the hospital treatment (n=25) or the outreac h treatment group (n=25). The outcome measures included psychiatric sy mptoms, family burden, costs and hospital admissions. At most observat ion points (up to 28 weeks) and at all endpoints the two groups were e quivalent with regard to psychiatric symptoms. The burden on carers di d not increase significantly during the outreach treatment. Treatment costs were lower for the outreach treatment. Of the 25 patients who re ceived outreach treatment, four had to be admitted to the specialized hospital. Aggressive behaviour, social competence and number of previo us psychiatric hospitalizations were found to be predictors of treatme nt outcome. It is concluded that outreach treatment represents an effe ctive and efficient alternative to hospital treatment for patients wit h mental retardation and psychiatric disorders.