Aftercare in the Community Health Center

Aftercare in the Community Health Center - a Venue for Identifying and Coordinating Community Services

This is a trial to examine the effects of aftercare for mental health patients in community health center (Leistad). Recruitment occurs among hospitalized patients in psychiatric hospitals (Østmarka). After discharge, patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: intervention group (community health center, primary care) or control group (Community mental health centers of District Psychiatric Service, specialist care).

The project's primary objective is to investigate the effect of community services on patients' functional capacity and user satisfaction after discharge. Secondly, the number of treatment days and readmissions to mental health care will be examined. The project will also compare costs of hospitalization, in psychiatric hospital and community health center respectively. Data will be collected from community health records, medical records and patient systems in psychiatric hospital, community mental health centers of District Psychiatric Service (DPS) and questionnaires filled out by patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• considered by the responsible manager to have given consent
• hospitalized, diagnosed and treated such as can be continued in a District Psychiatric Service or a health center.
• stable condition, but anxiety and disruptive behavior may occur to a lesser extent.
• considered to have a perceived need for complex services from specialist health and community for a long time after discharge.

Exclusion Criteria:

• not in a stable phase thus shielding required