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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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A randomized trial of early psychiatric intervention in residential care
— impact on health outcomes | | Author(s) | Ria Kotynia-English, Helen McGowan, Osvaldo P Almeida |
| Journal title | International Psychogeriatrics, vol 17, no 3, September 2005 |
| Pages | pp 475-486 |
| Source | http://journals.cambridge.org |
| Keywords | Behaviour disorders ; Personality disorders ; Psychiatric treatment ; Care homes ; Longitudinal surveys ; Australia. |
| Annotation | The prevalence of psychological and behavioural disturbances among older people in residential care facilities is high; and it has been shown previously that people with such symptoms have poorer health outcomes. The 12-month health outcomes were assessed of people aged 65+ admitted to 22 residential care facilities in Perth, Western Australia. 106 subjects and their next of kin consented to participate, and were allocated randomly to an early psychiatric intervention or to usual care (53 in each group). The researchers hypothesised that subjects in the intervention group would have better mental and physical health outcomes than controls. Demographics and clinical information (including medications and use of physical restraint) were gathered systematically from all participants at baseline, and 6 and 12 months. At each assessment, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Health of the Nation Outcome Scale for Older Adults (HoNOS 65+), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) were administered. Subjects in the intervention group who screened positive at baseline assessment for psychiatric morbidity were reviewed within a 2-week period by the Inner City Mental Health Service of Older Adults (ICMHSOA). If clinically appropriate, mental health services were introduced without the research team's involvement. Mental health screening and early referral to a psychogeriatric service did not significantly change the average number of medical contacts, self-rated health, use of psychotropic or PRN medication, use of physical restraint, 12-month mortality, or mental health outcomes, as measured by the GDS-15, HoNOS 65+ and NPI. Systematic mental health screening of older people admitted to residential care facilities and early clinical intervention does not change 12-month health outcomes. Needed instead are more effective interventions to improve health outcomes of those admitted to residential care with psychological and behavioural disturbances. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-051116208 A |
| Classmark | EP: EK: LP: KW: 3J: 7YA |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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