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Multiple‐Family Group Treatment of Outpatients With Schizophrenia: Impact on Service Utilization
Author(s) -
MCDONELL MICHAEL G.,
SHORT ROBERT A.,
HAZEL NICHOLAS A.,
BERRY CHRISTOPHER M.,
DYCK DENNIS G.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
family process
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.011
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1545-5300
pISSN - 0014-7370
DOI - 10.1111/j.1545-5300.2006.00176.x
Subject(s) - randomization , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , intervention (counseling) , medicine , distress , mental health , inpatient care , randomized controlled trial , mental health service , psychiatry , ambulatory care , treatment and control groups , health care , clinical psychology , surgery , pathology , economics , economic growth
The impact of multiple‐family group treatment (MFGT) on outpatient and inpatient mental health service utilization of 97 persons with schizophrenia was investigated. Participants were randomly assigned to standard care ( n =44) or standard care plus MFGT ( n =53). Service use for a year prior to randomization, the 2‐year study period, and a 1‐year follow‐up were examined. Relative to standard care participants, the MFGT group had reduced community hospitalization during year 1 of the intervention and reduced state hospitalization at follow‐up. During the intervention period, MFGT participants demonstrated a significant increase in outpatient utilization as a direct consequence of the intervention. However, when service use was summed across 3 years post‐randomization, no group differences were observed. Results suggest that implementation of MFGT in a community mental health setting reduces inpatient service at specific time periods, without significantly increasing outpatient service utilization. These findings add to other outcomes from this study that demonstrate decreased psychiatric symptoms and caregiver distress.