Intensieve thuisbehandeling van jongeren in crisis

Objective

To investigate whether a new intensive home treatment (IHT) model for adolescents with psychiatric problems is more effective or more efficient than previous treatment methods involving long-term clinical admission.

Design

Descriptive, retrospective study.

Method

The previous treatment model for adolescents in crisis consisted of clinical admission for 6 months or longer. To implement the new treatment model, 4 admission wards with 34 beds were converted to 1 ‘high & intensive care’ (HIC) ward with 7 beds, in combination with IHT care for the family in the home environment. Admission to the HIC is short-term, and the parents are admitted along with their child. The new model was used from May 2013. The number of patients receiving care, the length of treatment, patient satisfaction, the number of beds and the costs were investigated and compared with data from the years 2011 and 2012.

Results

In comparison with the previous treatment model, this IHT treatment model revealed that more adolescents could be treated in the course of 1 year (125 compared with 70 per year) with a shorter duration of treatment (2 weeks clinical admission if required and 4 months ambulatory treatment, compared with 6 to 7 months clinical treatment) and with lower costs (€28,000 compared with €55,000) with the same level of patient satisfaction.

Conclusion

Although initial treatment results are positive, more extensive investigation is required into treatment effectiveness and cost efficiency of the IHT model for adolescents over a longer period of time.

Conflict of interest and financial support: none declared.