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Effectiveness of the implementation of guidelines for anxiety disorders in specialized mental health care
Author(s) -
Dijk M. K.,
Oosterbaan D. B.,
Verbraak M. J. P. M.,
Hoogendoorn A. W.,
Penninx B. W. J. H.,
Balkom A. J. L. M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/acps.12338
Subject(s) - guideline , anxiety , medicine , intervention (counseling) , mental health , mental health care , psychiatry , physical therapy , pathology
Objective To examine the effect of implementing anxiety disorders guidelines on guideline adherence and patient outcomes in specialized mental health care. Method A treatment setting in which guidelines were implemented (intervention condition) was compared with one in which guidelines were only disseminated (control condition). Results Of 61.7% of 81 intervention‐condition patients received treatment according to the guidelines vs. 40.6% of 69 control‐condition patients ( P = 0.01). At 1‐year follow‐up, intervention‐condition patients showed a greater decrease in anxiety symptoms ( d = 0.48, P < 0.05); higher percentages of response (52.6% vs. 33.8%; P = 0.025) and remission (33.3% vs.16.9%; P = 0.026); and a greater decrease in the rate of phobic avoidance ( d = 0.34, P < 0.05). At 2‐year follow‐up, control‐condition patients had experienced a longer period of treatment, which had eroded most of these differences, except for phobic avoidance. Conclusion Systematic guideline implementation results in earlier gains and shorter treatment times.