BACKGROUND: A number of studies have demonstrated reductions in the utilisation of psychiatric services, especially acute in-patient admissions, following therapeutic community treatment of personality disorder. These studies have, however, been of limited duration (1 year) and follow-up has not always been complete. AIMS: To identify hospital admissions before and after therapeutic community treatment of personality disorder. METHOD: A naturalistic clinical cohort of patients admitted between January 1993 and December 1995 was followed up for 3 years. All subjects were traced to their current consultant psychiatrist, general practitioner or death. RESULTS: All patients were traced at 3-year follow-up. The significant reduction in in-patient admissions seen in the first year was maintained over 3 years. Those with the poorest outcomes, suicide, accidental death or prolonged admission were all in the quartile with the shortest admissions (under 42 days) to the therapeutic community. CONCLUSIONS: Previously reported reductions in psychiatric admissions following therapeutic community treatment of personality disorder are maintained over 3 years.
BACKGROUND: A number of studies have demonstrated reductions in the utilisation of psychiatric services, especially acute in-patient admissions, following therapeutic community treatment of personality disorder. These studies have, however, been of limited duration (1 year) and follow-up has not always been complete. AIMS: To identify hospital admissions before and after therapeutic community treatment of personality disorder. METHOD: A naturalistic clinical cohort of patients admitted between January 1993 and December 1995 was followed up for 3 years. All subjects were traced to their current consultant psychiatrist, general practitioner or death. RESULTS: All patients were traced at 3-year follow-up. The significant reduction in in-patient admissions seen in the first year was maintained over 3 years. Those with the poorest outcomes, suicide, accidental death or prolonged admission were all in the quartile with the shortest admissions (under 42 days) to the therapeutic community. CONCLUSIONS: Previously reported reductions in psychiatric admissions following therapeutic community treatment of personality disorder are maintained over 3 years.