Psychological therapy for inpatients receiving acute mental health care: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials.

CONCLUSIONS: The provision of psychological therapy to acute psychiatric inpatients is associated with improvements; however, the use of single-blind RCT methodology was associated with reduced therapy-attributable improvements. Whether this is a consequence of increased internal validity or reduced external validity is unclear. Trials with both high internal and external validity are now required to establish what type, format, and intensity of brief psychological therapy is required to achieve sustained benefits. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Clinical implications: This review provides the first meta-analytical synthesis of brief psychological therapy delivered in acute psychiatric inpatient settings. This review suggests that brief psychological therapy may be associated with reduced emotional distress and readmissions. LIMITATIONS: The evidence in this review is of limited quality. The type, format, and intensity of brief psychological therapy required to achieve sustained benefits are yet to be established. PMID: 29660770 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: The British Journal of Clinical Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Br J Clin Psychol Source Type: research