[Geropsychiatric liaisonservices and nursing homes--do they need them? Results of a pilot study in five nursing homes in Germany].

OBJECTIVES: This project evaluates whether a multidisciplinary consultation-liaison team with special geropsychiatric experience can help to reduce complex care problems in mentally ill nursing-home residents.
METHODS: Prospective longitudinal study of patients living in 5 nursing homes in Germany, supplemented by expert interviews with the members of the consultation-liaison team, as well as semi-structured interviews and by a questionnaire answered by the participating nursing home staff.
RESULTS: Data show that in spite of the high burden of disease and the usually progressive course of illness a majority of residents could benefit from the interventions applied by the multidisciplinary team. Additionally, there were positive effects on the work situation of staff and a reduction of costs. DISCUSSION: Our results indicate that a geropsychiatric consultation-liaison team for nursing homes may improve service delivery especially with regard to behavioral psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD). © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.