The prediction of mental health service use in residential care

Rachel L. Anderson, John S. Lyons, Courtney West

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize the clinical and psychosocial factors of residents living in psychiatric nursing homes, assess residents' levels of mental health service utilization, and examine the factors that predict the utilization of mental health services. Data were collected from 200 randomly selected residents with schizophrenia living in four intermediate care facilities. Fewer than 60% of residents received mental health services beyond medication and nearly one-half of the residents were readmitted to the hospital in the course of a year. Family contact and involvement in activities were associated with mental health service utilization. Hospital readmission was predicted, not by substance use, but rather by not using substances. There is a growing need among service providers to better identify relevant factors that are important in treatment planning and service delivery. Attention to these issues may impact treatment provision and outcomes for persons with schizophrenia and their families.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)313-322
Number of pages10
JournalCommunity Mental Health Journal
Volume37
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2001

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported in part by grant MH43450–11 from the Center for Research on the Organization and Financing of Care for the Severely Mentally Ill, Rutgers University. The authors would like to thank Dan Lewis, Allan Horwitz, and David Mechanic for their support and comments.

Keywords

  • mental disorders
  • mental health services
  • nursing homes
  • residential care
  • schizophrenia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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