D Bhugra1, O Ayonrinde, G Butler, M Leese, G Thornicroft. 1. Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK. dinesh.bhugra@.kcl.ac.uk
Abstract
AIM: We aimed at testing whether an assertive outreach team (AOT) run by a Black voluntary organisation is more acceptable to Black people with severe mental illness. METHODS: A randomised controlled trial (RCT) of 83 Black (African, African Caribbean or Black British) patients with severe mental illness with treatment as usual (TAU) or Assertive Outreach (AO) by a non-statutory sector Black AOT. Frequency of admissions, duration of admissions, symptom severity and client satisfaction with clinical interventions were assessed. RESULTS: The mean length of admission at follow-up was not significantly different between the two groups (74.64 v. 64.51; mean difference= 10.13, 95% CI -2.86, 23.11, p= 0.125), neither was the mean number of admissions (1.32 v. 1.20; mean difference=0.13, 95% CI -0.18, 0.43, p = 0.401). Mean Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) ratings at 1-year follow-up were significantly lower in the AOT group than in the TAU group (56.34 v. 63.62; mean difference = 7.27, 95% CI 0.66, 13.88, p = 0.032), and people were significantly more satisfied with AOT 24/29 (83%) than the generic services: 4/26 (15%), p<0.001. CONCLUSIONS: While the AO service was highly culturally acceptable to Black people, there was no evidence that the provision of AOT reduces frequency or duration of hospital admission.
RCT Entities:
AIM: We aimed at testing whether an assertive outreach team (AOT) run by a Black voluntary organisation is more acceptable to Black people with severe mental illness. METHODS: A randomised controlled trial (RCT) of 83 Black (African, African Caribbean or Black British) patients with severe mental illness with treatment as usual (TAU) or Assertive Outreach (AO) by a non-statutory sector Black AOT. Frequency of admissions, duration of admissions, symptom severity and client satisfaction with clinical interventions were assessed. RESULTS: The mean length of admission at follow-up was not significantly different between the two groups (74.64 v. 64.51; mean difference= 10.13, 95% CI -2.86, 23.11, p= 0.125), neither was the mean number of admissions (1.32 v. 1.20; mean difference=0.13, 95% CI -0.18, 0.43, p = 0.401). Mean Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) ratings at 1-year follow-up were significantly lower in the AOT group than in the TAU group (56.34 v. 63.62; mean difference = 7.27, 95% CI 0.66, 13.88, p = 0.032), and people were significantly more satisfied with AOT 24/29 (83%) than the generic services: 4/26 (15%), p<0.001. CONCLUSIONS: While the AO service was highly culturally acceptable to Black people, there was no evidence that the provision of AOT reduces frequency or duration of hospital admission.
Authors: R C Henderson; P Williams; J Gabbidon; S Farrelly; O Schauman; S Hatch; G Thornicroft; D Bhugra; S Clement Journal: Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci Date: 2014-03-17 Impact factor: 6.892
Authors: Barbara Barrett; Waquas Waheed; Simone Farrelly; Max Birchwood; Graham Dunn; Clare Flach; Claire Henderson; Morven Leese; Helen Lester; Max Marshall; Diana Rose; Kim Sutherby; George Szmukler; Graham Thornicroft; Sarah Byford Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-11-25 Impact factor: 3.240