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Introducing community mental health services
Author(s) -
Stefansson C.G.,
Cullberg J.
Publication year - 1986
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/j.1600-0447.1986.tb06256.x
Subject(s) - medicine , mental health , psychiatry , alcohol abuse , population , mental health care , family medicine , environmental health
By means of a computerised psychiatric case register, the effects on a defined population with 71,371 inhabitants were studied when the mainly hospital‐based psychiatric services in the area were changed to community mental health units with substantial outpatient resources. Diagnostic, social and demographic variables and care utilisation rates were compared. A 29% increase in patients under the new system was observed. Most of the newcomers had acute crisis reactions, were younger, on average, than previous patients and registered alcohol abuse and somatic diseases. Outpatient utilisation increased (170%) and hospital admissions decreased (22%). Compulsory admissions increased (43%), as did sick‐leave registrations (21%). These trends are discussed in light of the new organisation.