Assessment of the Mobile Mental Health Units' effectiveness in Cyclades islands

Psychiatriki. 2021 Aug 5. doi: 10.22365/jpsych.2021.031. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTIn Greece, the provision of mental health shows inefficiencies in remote and inaccessible areas due to the lack of appropriate structures and access to healthcare. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the Mobile Mental Health Units (MMHUs) in Cyclades with and without MMHUs' operation based on Real-World Evidence (RWE). The study population consisted of 724 people who visited the MMHUs of the western and northeastern Cyclades in 2015. The data derived from the patients' medical records of EPAPSY classified by International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. The analysis revealed that 60.9% of the participants were women and the average age was 50.1. 50.4% of the people who visited MMHUs without referral from primary health care professionals and 18.8% with referral. The calculation of effectiveness was based on DALYs (Disability-Adjusted Life Years) and was performed according to the World Health Organization methodology. In the specific population, there are no recorded deaths caused by mental disorders and thus DALYs are equal to Years Lost due to Disability (YLDs) with MMHUs' operation. 18% of the population was diagnosed with mood disorders (F30-F39) and morbidity burden 9.49 (YLDs), while 17.5% of the patients were diagnosed with neurotic, stress-related ...
Source: Psychiatriki - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Source Type: research