Improvements in Hope, Engagement and Functioning Following a Recovery-Focused Sub-Acute Inpatient Intervention: a Six-Month Evaluation

AbstractFew studies have examined the post-discharge benefits associated with recover-oriented programs delivered in inpatient and sub-acute mental health settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the medium-term outcomes of a 6-week sub-acute inpatient intervention program for 27 service users with a diagnosis of serious mental illness (mean age  = 33.22 years, 70.4% with a psychosis diagnosis). Recovery data were collected on admission, at discharge, and at 3- and 6-months post-discharge using self-report, collaborative and clinical measures. The three clinician-rated measures (assessing therapeutic engagement, functioning, and life s kills) revealed linear improvements from admission to 6-month follow-up (with mean z-change ranging from 0.72 to 1.35), as did the self-reported social connection measure (Mental Health Recovery Star, MHRS; mean z-change: 1.05). There were also curvilinear improvements in self-determination and self -reported MHRS symptom management and functioning scores; however, only modest changes were detected in hope (Herth Hope Index) and MHRS self-belief scores. Change scores based on self-reported and clinician-rated measures tended to be uncorrelated. An exploration of client-level outcomes revealed t hree recovery trajectory subgroups: transient (21.7%), gradual (34.8%), or sustained (43.5%) improvement; with members of the latter group tending to have longer illness durations. The study’s findings are encouraging, to the extent that th...

Source: Psychiatric Quarterly - June 14, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research