Joining psychiatric care and faith healing in a prayer camp in Ghana: randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Care of people with serious mental illness in prayer camps in low-income countries generates human rights concerns and ethical challenges for outcome researchers. Aims To ethically evaluate joining traditional faith healing with psychiatric care including medications (Clinical trials.gov identifier NCT02593734). METHOD: Residents of a Ghana prayer camp were randomly assigned to receive either indicated medication for schizophrenia or mood disorders along with usual prayer camp activities (prayers, chain restraints and fasting) (n = 71); or the prayer camp activities alone (n = 68). Masked psychologists assessed Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) outcomes at 2, 4 and 6 weeks. Researchers discouraged use of chaining, but chaining decisions remained under the control of prayer camp staff. RESULTS: Total BPRS symptoms were significantly lower in the experimental group (P = 0.003, effect size -0.48). There was no significant difference in days in chains. CONCLUSIONS: Joining psychiatric and prayer camp care brought symptom benefits but, in the short-run, did not significantly reduce days spent in chains. Declaration of interest None.

Incarceration histories of homeless veterans and progression through a national supported housing program.

There is increasing concern that adults with a past history of incarceration are at particular disadvantage in exiting homelessness. Supported housing with case management has emerged as the leading service model for assisting homeless adults; however there has been limited examination of the success of adults with past history of incarceration in obtaining housing within this paradigm. Data were examined on 14,557 veterans who entered a national supported housing program for homeless veterans, the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program (HUD-VASH) during 2008 and 2009, to identify characteristics associated with a history of incarceration and to evaluate whether those with a history of incarceration are less likely to obtain housing and/or more likely to experience delays in the housing attainment process. Veterans who reported no past incarceration were compared with veterans with short incarceration histories (≤ 1 year) and those with long incarceration histories (>1 year). A majority of participants reported history of incarceration; 43 % reported short incarceration histories and 22 % reported long incarceration histories. After adjusting for baseline characteristics and site, history of incarceration did not appear to impede therapeutic alliance, progression through the housing process or obtaining housing. Within a national supported housing program, veterans with a history of incarceration were just as successful at obtaining housing in similar time frames when compared to veterans without any past incarceration. Supported housing programs, like HUD-VASH, appear to be able to overcome impediments faced by formerly incarcerated homeless veterans and therefore should be considered a a good model for housing assistance programs.

Cigarette smoking, psychopathology and cognitive function in first-episode drug-naive patients with schizophrenia: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Although patients with chronic schizophrenia have substantially higher smoking rates than either the general population or patients with other mental illnesses, drug-naive patients with a first episode of schizophrenia have received little systemic study. This study examined smoking rates, the association between smoking and symptom severity and cognitive function in Chinese first-episode schizophrenia (FES) patients using cross-sectional and case-control designs. METHOD: Two hundred and forty-four drug-naive FES patients and 256 healthy controls matched for gender, age and education completed the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Patients were also rated on the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS). RESULTS: The rate and quantity of smoking were not significantly higher among FES patients compared to the general population. Among patients, smokers scored higher than non-smokers on the total PANSS and the positive symptom subscale scores. There were no significant associations between cognitive function and smoking in either FES patients or healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to studies in patients with chronic schizophrenia, drug-naive FES patients did not smoke more frequently than the general population. Furthermore, patients with psychotic disorders who smoked did not exhibit significant cognitive differences compared with those who did not smoke. However, smoking may have other detrimental effects on physical and mental health, for example on positive symptoms.

Veteran subjects willingness to participate in schizophrenia clinical trials.

Predictive characteristics of subjects agreeing to be randomized into clinical trials for the treatment of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder have been little studied. In this study, we used data from the recruitment phase of a randomized trial that compared long acting injectable (LAI) risperidone to oral antipsychotic medications. Basic socio-demographic and clinical data were gathered from eligible patients and clinicians at the time of screening for trial entry. Bivariate comparisons and multivariate logistic regression were used to compare those who agreed to participate and those who refused. Altogether 446 veterans were eligible on preliminary screening, of these 382 (86 %) agreed to participate and 64 (14 %) declined. Eligible patients who agreed to be randomized were more willing to change medications without regard to their level of satisfaction with their current medication. Subjects reported as currently taking LAI medication and taking risperidone, in particular, were more likely to agree to participate. Factors that did not significantly predict participation included age, years on current medication, reported medication compliance, race, and gender. Veterans with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who were actually more satisfied with their current medications and who were currently taking the experimental agent were more likely to agree to participate in this randomized clinical trial in contrast to expectations that individuals who are unsatisfied with their current treatment would be more likely to enroll in such studies.

Examining the relationship of concurrent obesity and tobacco use disorder on the development of substance use disorders and psychiatric conditions: Findings from the NESARC-III.

Background: Multimorbidity is linked to worse health outcomes than single health conditions. However, recent studies show that obesity may reduce the risk of developing substance use disorders (SUDs), particularly in vulnerable populations. We investigated how comorbid obesity and tobacco use disorder (TUD) relate to the risk of SUDs and psychiatric conditions. Methods: Data was used from 36,309 individuals who completed the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions - Wave III. Individuals who met the DSM-5 criteria for TUD in the last year were defined as the TUD group. Obesity was defined as having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2. Using this information, individuals were grouped into categories, with people being identified as either having obesity, TUD, both obesity and TUD, or not having either obesity or TUD (comparison). Groups were compared against their comorbid diagnoses of either an additional SUD or psychiatric conditions. Results: Controlling for demographic characteristics, we found that individuals with obesity including those individuals with TUD, had lower rates of comorbid SUD diagnosis than individuals with TUD alone. Additionally, individuals with combined TUD and obesity, and those with TUD alone, had the highest rates of comorbid psychiatric disorder diagnosis. Conclusions: The current study aligns with previous research suggesting that obesity may reduce risk of substance use disorders, even in individuals who have other risk factors promoting harmful substance use (e.g., tobacco use). These findings may inform targeted intervention strategies for this clinically relevant subpopulation.

Rethinking antipsychotic formulary policy.

In this commentary, we review recent research suggesting that (a) second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) may be no more effective than first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs), (b) the reduced risk of EPS and tardive dyskinesia with SGAs is more weakly supported by the research literature than has been appreciated, and (c) benefits may be offset by greater metabolic risks of some SGAs and their substantially greater cost. Bearing in mind, as well, that risperidone, currently the least expensive SGA, will soon be available as an even less expensive generic drug, we propose a new algorithm for maintenance antipsychotic therapy. We further outline a cautious implementation procedure that relies on standardized documentation and feedback, without a restrictive formulary that would limit physician choice. The algorithm outlined here and the process for its implementation are intended as a stimulus for discussion of potential policy responses, not as a finalized proposition.

Opioid medication use in patients with gastrointestinal diagnoses vs unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms in the US Veterans Health Administration.

BACKGROUND: While opioid prescriptions have increased alarmingly in the United States (US), their use for unexplained chronic gastrointestinal (GI) pain (eg, irritable bowel syndrome) carries an especially high risk for adverse effects and questionable benefit. AIM: To compare opioid use among US veterans with structural GI diagnoses (SGID) and those with unexplained GI symptoms or functional GI diagnoses (FGID), a group for whom opioids have no accepted role. METHODS: Veterans Health Administration (VHA) administrative data from fiscal year 2012 were used to identify veterans with diagnostic codes recorded for SGID and FGID. This cohort study examined VHA pharmacy data to compare groups receiving ≥ 1 opioid prescription during the year and number of prescriptions filled. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for potential confounding factors (demographics, medical diagnoses, social factors) and identified potential mediators (service use, psychiatric comorbidity) of opioid use in these groups. RESULTS: A greater proportion of veterans with FGID received an opioid prescription during fiscal year 2012 (36.0% of 272 431) compared to only 28.9% of 1 223 744 in the SGID group (Relative Risk [RR] = 1.25). In multivariate logistic regression, personality disorders and drug abuse (OR 1.23 for each group), recent homelessness (OR 1.22), psychotropic medication fills (OR 1.55) and emergency department encounters (OR 1.21) were independently associated with opioid prescription use. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the potential for adverse consequences, opioids more often are prescribed for veterans with chronic, unexplained GI symptoms compared to those with structural diagnoses. Psychiatric comorbidities and frequent healthcare encounters mediate some of the opioid use risk.

Time-limited assertive community treatment for homeless persons with severe mental illness.

BACKGROUND: The assertive community treatment (ACT) model for people with severe mental illness was originally designed to be provided continuously without termination. This study evaluated postdischarge changes in health status and service use associated with the time-limited provision of ACT to homeless people with severe mental illness. METHODS: Clients in the fourth annual cohort of the Access to Community Care and Effective Services and Supports (ACCESS) program (N = 1617) were assessed at entry into ACT and 3, 12, and 18 months later. Random effects models were used to compare outcomes and service use among clients who terminated ACT and clients who remained in ACT, controlling for potentially confounding factors. RESULTS: Altogether, of clients who participated in follow-up, 8.7% participated for less than 3 months; 40.6%, for 3 to 10 months; 15.3%, for 11-13 months; and 35.3%, for 14 months or more. Controlling for potentially confounding factors, mental health, substance abuse, and housing outcomes did not significantly differ between clients who had been discharged at the time of follow-up as compared with those who had not. Those who had been discharged had worked significantly more days than those who had not (t(1794) = 3.24, P<.001), and they reported significantly less outpatient health service use though there was no decline in hospital days or receipt of public support payments. CONCLUSION: Homeless clients who have severe mental illness can be selectively discharged or transferred from ACT to other services without subsequent loss of gains in mental health status, substance abuse, housing, or employment.

Use of practitioner-based complementary therapies by persons reporting mental conditions in the United States.

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, this study provides the first national estimates for use of practitioner-based complementary treatments by US residents reporting mental conditions. METHODS: A total of 16038 respondents to the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey were asked about visits for 12 complementary medical services (eg, chiropractic services and herbal remedies). Bivariate and multiple regression models examined use of these therapies in individuals reporting a mental condition (n= 1803), fair or poor mental health status (n=992), and 1 of 4 chronic medical conditions (n = 3262) and in the remainder of the sample (n= 10 793). RESULTS: A total of 9.8% of those reporting a mental condition made a complementary visit, and about half of these (4.5%) made a visit to treat the mental condition. Persons reporting transient stress or adjustment disorders were most likely (odds ratio, 9.1%; 95% confidence interval, 5.5%-12.7%), and those with psychotic (odds ratio, 1.5%; 95% confidence interval, 0.0%-4.2%) and affective (odds ratio, 2.6%; 95% confidence interval, 1.5%-3.8%) conditions least likely, to use complementary therapies to treat their mental condition. In multivariate models controlling for medical comorbidity, fair or poor mental health status, and demographic factors, report of a mental condition predicted a 1.27-fold increase in the odds of a complementary visit (95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.54). CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported mental conditions were associated with increased use of complementary treatments, although use of these treatments was concentrated in respondents with transient distress rather than chronic and serious conditions. More research using structured diagnostic interviews is needed to examine the prevalence, patterns, and clinical implications of use of these treatments by individuals with mental conditions in "real world" community settings.

Cost-effectiveness of intensive psychiatric community care for high users of inpatient services.

BACKGROUND: This 2-year experimental study evaluated the effectiveness and cost of 10 intensive psychiatric community care (IPCC) programs at Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers in the northeastern United States. METHODS: High users of inpatient services were randomly assigned to either IPCC or standard Department of Veterans Affairs care at 6 general medical and surgical hospitals (n=271 vs 257) and 4 neuropsychiatric hospitals (n=183 vs 162). Patient interviews every 6 months and national computerized data were used to assess clinical outcomes, health service use, health care costs, and non-health care costs. RESULTS: There was only 1 significant clinical difference between groups across follow-up periods: IPCC patients at general medical and surgical sites had higher community living skills. However, at the final interview, IPCC patients at general medical and surgical sites showed significantly lower symptoms, higher functioning, and greater satisfaction with services. Treatment with IPCC significantly reduced hospital use only at neuropsychiatric sites (320 vs 513 days, P<.001). Total societal costs, including the cost of IPCC, were lower for IPCC at neuropsychiatric sites ($82,454 vs $116,651, P<.001), but greater at general medical and surgical sites ($51,537 vs $46,491, P<.01). When 2 sites that incompletely implemented the model were dropped from the analysis, costs at general medical and surgical sites were $38 lower for IPCC (P=.26). CONCLUSIONS: At acute care hospitals, IPCC treatment is associated with greater long-term clinical improvement and, when fully implemented, is cost-neutral. At long-stay hospitals treating older, less-functional patients, it is not associated with clinical or functional improvement but generates substantial cost savings. Intensive psychiatric community care thus has beneficial, but somewhat different, outcome profiles at different types of hospitals.

Integrated medical care for patients with serious psychiatric illness: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: This randomized trial evaluated an integrated model of primary medical care for a cohort of patients with serious mental disorders. METHODS: A total of 120 individuals enrolled in a Veterans Affairs (VA) mental health clinic were randomized to receive primary medical care through an integrated care initiative located in the mental health clinic (n = 59) or through the VA general medicine clinic (n = 61). Veterans who obtained care in the integrated care clinic received on-site primary care and case management that emphasized preventive medical care, patient education, and close collaboration with mental health providers to improve access to and continuity of care. Analyses compared health process (use of medical services, quality of care, and satisfaction) and outcomes (health and mental health status and costs) between the groups in the year after randomization. RESULTS: Patients treated in the integrated care clinic were significantly more likely to have made a primary care visit and had a greater mean number of primary care visits than those in the usual care group. They were more likely to have received 15 of the 17 preventive measures outlined in clinical practice guidelines. Patients assigned to the integrated care clinic had a significantly greater improvement in health as measured by the physical component summary score of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey than patients assigned to the general medicine clinic (4.7 points vs -0.3 points, P<.001). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in any of the measures of mental health symptoms or in total health care costs. CONCLUSION: On-site, integrated primary care was associated with improved quality and outcomes of medical care.

Quality of medical care and excess mortality in older patients with mental disorders.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated whether differences in quality of medical care might explain a portion of the excess mortality associated with mental disorders in the year after myocardial infarction. METHODS: This study examined a national cohort of 88 241 Medicare patients 65 years and older who were hospitalized for clinically confirmed acute myocardial infarction. Proportional hazard models compared the association between mental disorders and mortality before and after adjusting 5 established quality indicators: reperfusion, aspirin, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and smoking cessation counseling. All models adjusted for eligibility for each procedure, demographic characteristics, cardiac risk factors and history, admission characteristics, left ventricular function, hospital characteristics, and regional factors. RESULTS: After adjusting for the potential confounding factors, presence of any mental disorder was associated with a 19% increase in 1-year risk of mortality (hazard ratios [HR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.36). After adding the 5 quality measures to the model, the association was no longer significant (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.96-1.26). Similarly, while schizophrenia (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.01-1.67) and major affective disorders (HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.02-1.20) were each initially associated with increased mortality, after adding the quality variables, neither schizophrenia (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.86-1.60) nor major affective disorder (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.87-1.23) remained a significant predictor. CONCLUSIONS: Deficits in quality of medical care seemed to explain a substantial portion of the excess mortality experienced by patients with mental disorders after myocardial infarction. The study suggests the potential importance of improving these patients' medical care as a step toward reducing their excess mortality.

Does participation in psychosocial treatment augment the benefit of clozapine? Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study Group on Clozapine in Refractory Schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: This study examines the role of participation in psychosocial treatment as a mediator of the clinical effectiveness of clozapine. METHODS: Subjects participated in a 12-month double-blind random-assignment trial comparing clozapine and haloperidol in patients hospitalized 30 to 364 days for refractory schizophrenia at 15 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers. A broker-advocate case management intervention was used to facilitate participation in psychosocial treatments and to document such participation. RESULTS: Between those who continued receiving clozapine (n=122) or a conventional antipsychotic drug (n=169) for 12 months, those receiving clozapine were more likely to participate in psychosocial rehabilitation treatment. Although they were no more likely to receive clinical recommendations for such treatments, they were more likely to both verbally accept recommendations and to act on them. Structural equation modeling shows that participation in psychosocial treatment did not play a mediating role in clozapine's effect on outcomes at 6 months, but was associated with both reduced symptoms and improved quality of life at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Clozapine facilitates participation in psychosocial treatment, and such enhanced participation is associated with improved quality-of-life and symptom outcomes. Psychosocial rehabilitation should be offered concomitantly with clozapine.

Cost-effectiveness of clozapine in patients with high and low levels of hospital use. Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study Group on Clozapine in Refractory Schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the relationship between pretreatment hospital use and the cost-effectiveness of clozapine in the treatment of refractory schizophrenia. METHODS: Data from a 15-site randomized clinical trial were used to compare clozapine with haloperidol in hospitalized Veterans Affairs patients with refractory schizophrenia (n = 423). Outcomes were compared among those with many days in the hospital use (hereafter, high hospital users) (n = 141; mean = 215 psychiatric hospital days in the year prior to study entry) and those with few days in the hospital use (hereafter, low hospital users) (n = 282; mean = 58 hospital days). Analyses were conducted with the full intention-to-treat sample (n = 423) and with crossovers excluded (n = 291). RESULTS: Clozapine treatment resulted in greater reduction in hospital use among high hospital users (35 days less than controls, P = .02) than among low users (21 days less than controls, P = .05). Patients taking clozapine also had lower health care costs; after including the costs of both medications and other health services, costs were $7134 less than for controls among high hospital users (P = .14) but only $759 less than for controls among low hospital users (P = .82). Clinical improvement in the domains of symptoms, quality of life, extrapyramidal symptoms, and a synthetic measure of multiple outcomes favored clozapine in both high and low hospital user groups. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial 1-year cost savings with clozapine are observed only among patients with very high hospital use prior to initiation of treatment while clinical benefits are more similar across groups. Cost-effectiveness evaluations, and particularly studies of expensive treatments, cannot be generalized across type of use groups.

Predictors of differential response to clozapine and haloperidol. Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study Group on Clozapine in Refractory Schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: We sought to identify baseline predictors of response to clozapine. METHODS: Data were from a 15-site randomized clinical trial comparing clozapine and haloperidol in hospitalized patients with refractory schizophrenia (n = 423). Three-month outcomes were analyzed with the full sample (n = 368 due to attrition). Because of crossovers, analyses of 12-month outcomes were conducted with crossovers excluded (n = 291). Clinical predictors included age, race, diagnosis (current substance abuse, paranoid subtype of schizophrenia, or depressive syndrome), severity of symptoms, quality of life, age at onset of schizophrenia, extrapyramidal symptoms, and VA compensation payment. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the interaction of treatment condition and each of these variables in predicting outcomes for symptoms, quality of life, side effects, and days hospitalized. RESULTS: Patients with higher quality of life at baseline (p = .04) and higher symptoms (p = .02) had relatively smaller declines in hospital days at 6 months. In the 12-month sample patients with higher levels of symptoms had greater symptom reductions at 12 months (p = .03) and greater improvement in quality of life (p = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Although high levels of symptoms were associated with greater improvement on clozapine, these findings are not robust enough to suggest that any specific, clinically defined subgroup of refractory patients should be preferentially targeted for clozapine treatment.

Cost-effectiveness of services for mentally ill homeless people: the application of research to policy and practice.

OBJECTIVE: About one-quarter of homeless Americans have serious mental illnesses. This review synthesizes research findings on the cost-effectiveness of services for this population and their relevance for policy and practice. METHOD: Service interventions for seriously mentally ill homeless people were grouped into three overlapping categories: 1) outreach, 2) case management, and 3) housing placement and transition to mainstream services. Data were reviewed both from experimental studies with high internal validity and from observational studies, which better reflect typical community practice. RESULTS: In most studies, specialized interventions are associated with significantly improved outcomes, most consistently in the housing domain, but also in mental health status and quality of life. These programs are also associated with increased use of many types of health service and housing assistance, resulting in increased costs in most cases. The value of these programs to the public thus depends on whether their greater effectiveness is deemed to be worth their additional cost. CONCLUSIONS: Innovative programs for seriously mentally ill homeless people are effective and are also likely to increase costs in many cases. Their value ultimately depends on the moral and political value society places on caring for its least-well-off members.

Regional variation in patterns of inpatient psychiatric care.

Regional variation in both average length of stay and number of beds per 100,000 population is described for inpatient psychiatric care in the United States during 1983. The greatest differences were between the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, on the one hand, and the Pacific and Southwest regions, on the other. Medical centers of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), whose policies are largely centrally determined, followed the same regional trends. Regional average length of stay, particularly in public sector mental health care organizations, was higher in regions with more occupied beds per 100,000 population.

Mental health status and community adjustment after treatment in a residential treatment program for homeless veterans.

OBJECTIVE: An uncontrolled outcome study was conducted to examine clinical improvement and the relationship of psychiatric and substance abuse problems, community adjustment, and housing status among homeless veterans who participated in a multisite residential treatment program. METHOD: The study was performed at three U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers in Florida, Ohio, and California. Baseline, discharge, and 3-month postdischarge follow-up data were collected for 255 veterans admitted to the Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans Program. Multiple dimensions of outcome were examined, including psychiatric symptoms, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, social contacts, income, employment, and housing. RESULTS: Program participation was found to be associated with improvement in all areas of mental health and community adjustment. Improvement in psychiatric symptoms was associated with superior housing outcomes and improvement in community adjustment. When correlates of improvement in alcohol and drug abuse were examined, only one of eight possible relationships was found to be significant: improvement in alcohol problems was positively associated with improvement in employment. CONCLUSIONS: Homeless mentally ill veterans derive clear benefits from participation in a multidimensional residential treatment program. Improvement in mental health problems, however, is weakly linked to improvement in other areas, suggesting that treatment programs may have to attend separately to multiple domains of life adjustment.

Psychiatric inpatient care in the VA: before, during, and after DRG-based budgeting.

OBJECTIVE: The authors examined the impact of budgeting based on diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) on inpatient psychiatric care in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers. DRG-based budgeting was implemented by the VA in 1984 and suspended in 1988. METHOD: Computerized discharge abstracts were obtained for all episodes of VA inpatient care occurring from 1980 through 1989. The number of discharges per year, number of unduplicated patients treated, mean length of stay, total number of bed days of care per unique patient per year, readmission rates, and number of episodes of care per operational bed were determined for psychiatric and nonpsychiatric (medical-surgical) hospitalizations occurring before, during, and after DRG-based budgeting was in effect. RESULTS: In the case of VA psychiatric care, DRG-based budgeting was associated with more episodes of care, shorter lengths of stay, higher readmission rates, and more episodes of care per occupied bed. DRG-based budgeting had similar effects on medical-surgical care, although an increase in the number of episodes of care was not observed. During the first year after this funding mechanism was suspended, changes in both psychiatric and medical-surgical care that were related to DRG-based budgeting were slowed and, in some cases, reversed. CONCLUSIONS: Both psychiatric and medical-surgical inpatient care in the VA were sensitive to changes in funding mechanisms. These changes were generally similar to those observed in psychiatric care provided by non-VA hospitals reimbursed under Medicare's DRG-based prospective payment system.

Effectiveness and cost of the inpatient treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: comparison of three models of treatment.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared the outcomes and costs of three models of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) inpatient treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): 1) long-stay specialized inpatient PTSD units, 2) short-stay specialized evaluation and brief-treatment PTSD units, and 3) nonspecialized general psychiatric units. METHOD: Data were drawn from 785 Vietnam veterans undergoing treatment at 10 programs across the country. The veterans were followed up at 4-month intervals for 1 year after discharge. Successful data collection averaged 66.1% across the three follow-up intervals. RESULTS: All models demonstrated improvement at the time of discharge, but during follow-up symptoms and social functioning rebounded toward admission levels, especially among participants who had been treated in long-stay PTSD units. Veterans in the short-stay PTSD units and in the general psychiatric units showed significantly more improvement during follow-up than veterans in the long-stay PTSD units. Greatest satisfaction with their programs was reported by veterans in the short-stay PTSD units. Finally, the long-stay PTSD units proved to be 82.4% and 53.5% more expensive over 1 year than the short-stay PTSD units and general psychiatric units, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The paucity of evidence of sustained improvement from costly long-stay specialized inpatient PTSD programs and the indication of high satisfaction and sustained improvement in the far less costly short-stay specialized evaluation and brief-treatment PTSD programs suggest that systematic restructuring of VA inpatient PTSD treatment could result in delivery of effective services to larger numbers of veterans.