Implementing a Community Model of Mental Health Care in Chile: Impact on Psychiatric Emergency Visits.

OBJECTIVE: The community model of mental health care (CMMHC) is recommended as the best way to organize mental health care, but evidence of its successful implementation and effectiveness is scarce, particularly in resource-poor settings. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of CMMHC on the rate of psychiatric emergency visits in Santiago, Chile. METHODS: The rate of psychiatric emergency visits from 2006 to 2011 was compared between two health care administrative districts: district 1 (D1), in which CMMHC was being systematically implemented, and D2, where CMMHC implementation was very limited and inconsistent. In addition, rates of psychiatric emergency visits in ten D1 municipalities were compared by the degree to which they had implemented CMMHC. RESULTS: Compared with D2, D1 had higher rates of psychiatric emergency visits during the observation period. In D1, the rate of visits per 100,000 inhabitants declined from 541 in 2006 to 414 in 2011. In D2, the rate increased from 104 in 2006 to 130 in 2011. In D1 municipalities, the reduction in the rate of psychiatric emergency visits was greater in those with well-implemented CMMHC compared with those with partially implemented CMMHC. When distance to the emergency room was taken into account, the 2011 rate of emergency visits in the ten D1 municipalities was 21% (p<.01) lower in those with well-implemented CMMHC than in those with partially implemented CMMHC. CONCLUSIONS: CMMHC implementation leads to reduction in psychiatric emergency visits, which are burdensome to both users and providers. Results support CMMHC implementation in resource-poor settings.

Clinical Features, Psychiatric Assessment, and Longitudinal Outcome of Suicide Attempters Admitted to a Tertiary Emergency Hospital.

The objective of this study was to characterize admissions to an emergency hospital due to suicide attempts and verify outcomes in 2 years. Data were collected from medical records and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. The sample consisted of 412 patients (58.7% women; mean age = 32.6 years old, SD = 14.3). Self-poisoning was the most frequent method (84.0%), and they were diagnosed mainly as depressive (40.3%) and borderline personality disorders (19.1%). Previous suicide attempts and current psychiatric treatment were reported by, respectively, 32.0% and 28.4%. Fifteen patients (3.6%, 9 males) died during hospitalization. At discharge, 79.3% were referred to community-based psychiatric services. Being male (OR = 2.11; 95% CI = 1.25-3.55), using violent methods (i.e., hanging, firearms, and knives) (OR = 1.96; 95% CI = 1.02-3.75) and psychiatric treatment history (OR = 2.58; 95% CI = 1.53-4.36) were predictors for psychiatric hospitalization. Of 258 patients followed for 2 years, 10 (3.9%) died (3 suicide), and 24 (9.3%) undertook new suicide attempts. Patients with a history of psychiatric treatment had higher risks of new suicide attempts (OR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.07-5.65). Suicide attempters admitted to emergency hospitals exhibit severe psychiatric disorders, and despite interventions, they continue to present high risks for suicide attempts and death.

The compliance to prescribed drug treatment and referral in a psychiatric emergency service: a follow-up study / Adesão ao tratamento farmacológico e ao encaminhamento ambulatorial em um serviço psiquiátrico de emergência: um estudo de seguimento

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the compliance to the prescribed drug treatment and referral of patients discharged from a psychiatric emergency service (PES). METHOD: From a total of 330 patients enrolled in the study, 175 (53%) agreed to a telephone inquiry 60 days after the PES visit regarding the status of the prescribed medication use and the outpatient referral. RESULTS 227 patients (68.8%) received prescription for a psychotropic medication and all patients were referred to an outpatient psychiatry service. Of the 175 patients who agreed to participate, 153 (87.4%) were successfully contacted by phone. Out of these, 97 patients (63.4%) were using the prescribed medication and 83 (54.2%) had scheduled a community appointment after 60 days. Patients who received a prescription had a greater chance of being on psychotropic medications at follow-up (OR 2.88; IC 95% 1.33-6.22; p = 0.007). However, the prescription was not associated with being in regular outpatient treatment (OR 0.76; IC 95% 0.036-1.61; p = 0.475). CONCLUSIONS: Psychotropic medications were routinely prescribed for PES patients, but this practice did not increase compliance to outpatient treatment referral after two months.

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a adesão ao tratamento farmacológico prescrito e ao encaminhamento em pacientes atendidos em um Serviço de Emergências Psiquiátricas (SEP). MÉTODO: Foram coletados dados demográficos e clínicos de 330 pacientes atendidos em um SEP durante um ano. Sessenta dias após o atendimento, a adesão ao tratamento farmacológico e a continuidade do tratamento em caráter ambulatorial foram avaliadas através de contato telefônico. RESULTADOS: 227 pacientes (68,8%) receberam prescrição de medicações psicotrópicas. Todos os pacientes foram encaminhados para serviços psiquiátricos ambulatoriais. Cento e setenta e cinco pacientes concordaram em receber o contato telefônico. Desses pacientes, 97 (63,4%) estavam usando a medicação prescrita e 83 (54,2%) haviam marcado consulta após 60 dias. Os pacientes que receberam uma prescrição tiveram maior chance de estar em uso de medicações psicotrópicas no contato do seguimento (RC 2,88; IC 95% 1,33-6,22; p = 0,007). Entretanto, a prescrição não foi associada ao agendamento de consulta ambulatorial (RC 0,76; IC 95% 0,036-1,61; p = 0,475). CONCLUSÕES: Medicações psicotrópicas são prescritas rotineiramente para pacientes atendidos em SEP, mas esta prática não aumentou a adesão ao encaminhamento para tratamento ambulatorial após dois meses.