Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T22:43:29.291Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Personalised support delivered by support workers for people with severe and persistent mental illness: a systematic review of patient outcomes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 November 2011

D. Siskind ,
M. Harris ,
J. Pirkis  and
H. Whiteford
D. Siskind*
Affiliation:
Policy and Evaluation Group, Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia Metro South Division of Mental Health, Brisbane, Australia
M. Harris
Affiliation:
Policy and Evaluation Group, Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
J. Pirkis
Affiliation:
Centre for Health Policy, Programs and Economics, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne
H. Whiteford
Affiliation:
Policy and Evaluation Group, Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
*
*Address for correspondence: D. Siskind, Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park – Centre for Mental Health, Locked Bag 500, Sumner Park BC, QLD 4074, Australia. (Email: [email protected])
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Aims.

Personalised support services assist patients with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) to live with functional deficits by providing living skills, emotional support, community access and advocacy. This paper aims to systematically review the evidence for personalised support.

Methods.

Systematic searches of Medline, PsycINFO and Google Scholar (inception to March 2011) identified studies investigating patient outcomes for personalised support services. The quality of the selected studies was assessed. The strength of evidence for the three categories of patient outcomes (illness acuity, personal functioning and patient satisfaction) was graded.

Results.

Fifteen studies met inclusion criteria with most rated as having moderate or weak study designs. The selected studies evaluated programs for outpatients with SPMI. There was moderate strength of evidence for reducing illness acuity and improving patient satisfaction with services, and weak strength of evidence for improving personal functioning in studies published to date. Most programs delivered multiple service types, and no clear pattern of service types leading to specific patient outcomes could be discerned.

Conclusions.

Although evidence published to date for personalised support is of variable quality, it suggests that services may be effective. More research on the effects of personalised support subtypes on patient outcomes is required.

Keywords

severe mental illnesssupportpsychosocialoutcomes
Type
Original Articles
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 21 , Issue 1 , March 2012 , pp. 97 - 110
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2003). National Classifications of Community Services. Version 2.0. AIHW Catalogue No. HWI 40. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: Canberra, Australia.Google Scholar
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2008). Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement: National Minimum Data Set collection. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: Canberra, Australia.Google Scholar
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2010). Mental Health Establishments NMDS 2010–2011. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: Canberra, Australia.Google Scholar
Balshem, H, Helfand, M, Schünemann, HJ, Oxman, AD, Kunz, R, Brozek, J, Vist, GE, Falck-Ytter, Y, Meerpohl, J, Norris, S, Guyatt, GH (2011). GRADE guidelines: 3. Rating the quality of evidence. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 64, 401–406.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barbui, C, Cipriani, A (2011). What are evidence-based treatment recommendations? Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences 20(01), 29–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bradshaw, T, Haddock, G (1998). Is befriending by trained volunteers of value to people suffering from long-term mental illness? Journal of Advanced Nursing 27, 713–720.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Clarkson, P, McCrone, P, Sutherby, K, Johnson, C, Johnson, S, Thornicroft, G (1999). Outcomes and costs of a community support worker service for the severely mentally ill. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 99, 196–206.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Collins, PY, Patel, V, Joestl, SS, March, D, Insel, TR, Daar, AS, Anderson, W, Dhansay, MA, Phillips, A, Shurin, S, Walport, M, Ewart, W, Savill, SJ, Bordin, IA, Costello, EJ, Durkin, M, Fairburn, C, Glass, RI, Hall, W, Huang, Y, Hyman, SE, Jamison, K, Kaaya, S, Kapur, S, Kleinman, A, Ogunniyi, A, Otero-Ojeda, A, Poo, MM, Ravindranath, V, Sahakian, BJ, Saxena, S, Singer, PA, Stein, DJ (2011). Grand challenges in global mental health. Nature 475, 27–30.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Deeks, JJ, Dinnes, J, D'amico, R, Sowden, AJ, Sakarovitch, C, Song, F, Petticrew, M, Altman, DJ (2003). Evaluating non-randomised intervention studies. Health Technology Assessment 7, 1–179.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (2010). Personal Helpers and Mentors (PHaMs) Operational Guidelines. Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra, Australia.Google Scholar
Department of Health and Ageing (2010). National Mental Health Report 2010: Summary of 15 Years of Reform in Australia's Mental Health Services Under the National Mental Health Strategy 1993–2008. Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra, Australia.Google Scholar
Dixon, LB, Dickerson, F, Bellack, AS, Bennett, M, Dickinson, D, Goldberg, RW, Lehman, A, Tenhula, WN, Calmes, C, Pasillas, RM, Peer, J, Kreyenbuhl, J, Schizophrenia Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) (2010). The 2009 schizophrenia PORT psychosocial treatment recommendations and summary statements. Schizophrenia Bulletin 36, 48–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Donahoe, CP, Carter, MJ, Bloem, WD, Hirsch, GL (1990). Assessment of interpersonal problem-solving skills. Psychiatry 53, 329–339.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Finlay-Jones, R, Brown, GW, Duncan-Jones, P, Harris, T, Murphy, E, Prudo, R (1980). Depression and anxiety in the community: replicating the diagnosis of a case. Psychological Medicine 10, 445–454.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Godley, SH, Sabin, MC, McClure, C, Smerken, M, Manion, M (1988). Paid friends for frequent recidivists: an evaluation of a multifaceted community aide program. Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal 11, 29–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guyatt, GH, Oxman, AD, Kunz, R, Atkins, D, Brozek, J, Vist, G, Alderson, P, Glasziou, P, Falck-Ytter, Y, Schünemann, HJ (2011). GRADE guidelines: 2. Framing the question and deciding on important outcomes. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 64, 395–400.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Guyatt, GH, Oxman, AD, Vist, GE, Kunz, R, Falck-Ytter, Y, Alonso-Coello, P, Schünemann, HJ, GRADE Working Group (2008). GRADE: an emerging consensus on rating quality of evidence and strength of recommendations. British Medical Journal 336, 924–926.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harris, T, Brown, GW, Robinson, R (1999). Befriending as an intervention for chronic depression among women in an inner city: 1: Randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Psychiatry 174, 219–224.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herman, SE, Mowbray, CT (1991). Client typology based on functioning level assessments: utility for service planning and monitoring. Journal of Mental Health Administration 18, 101–115.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Huxley, P, Evans, S, Beresford, P, Davidson, B, King, S (2009). The Principles and Provisions of Relationships. Journal of Social Work 9, 99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kemp, P (1997). Supporting the Supporters: the learning and supervision needs of unqualified support staff in a supported housing scheme for people with mental health problems. Educational Action Research 5, 193–210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Klein, AR, Ram, AC, Whitecraft, J (1998). Significance of peer social support with dually diagnosed clients: a pilot study. Research on Social Work Practice 8, 529–551.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kleiner, RJ, Drews, D (1992). Community-based treatment of psychiatric disorders in U.S.A. and Norway: insights for new service delivery systems. International Journal of Social Psychiatry 38, 95–106.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leff, HS, Chow, CM, Pepin, R, Conley, J, Allen, IE, Seaman, CA (2009). Does one size fit all? What we can and can't learn from a meta-analysis of housing models for persons with mental illness. Psychiatric Services 60, 473–482.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leff, J, O'Driscoll, C, Dayson, D, Wills, W, Anderson, J (1990). The TAPS Project. 5: the structure of social-network data obtained from long-stay patients. British Journal of Psychiatry 157, 848–852.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lehman, AF (1988). A quality of life interview for the chronically mentally ill. Evaluation and Program Planning 11, 51–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lloyd-Evans, B, Slade, M, Jagielska, D, Johnson, S (2009). Residential alternatives to acute psychiatric hospital admission: systematic review. British Journal of Psychiatry 195, 109–117.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mak, KY, Gow, L (1996). Clinical usefulness of an aftercare worker for psychotic patients discharged from half-way houses in Hong Kong. British Journal of Psychiatry 168, 757–761.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Manthorpe, J, Martineau, S, Moriarty, J, Hussein, S, Stevens, M (2010). Support workers in social care in England: a scoping study. Health and Social Care in the Community 18, 316–324.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meehan, T, Stedman, T, Robertson, S, Drake, S, King, R (2011). Does supported accommodation improve the clinical and social outcomes for people with severe psychiatric disability? The Project 300 experience. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 45, 586–592.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meek, I (1998). Evaluation of the role of the health care assistant within a community mental health intensive care team. Journal of Nursing Management 6, 11–19.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mowbray, CT, Chamberlain, P, Jennings, M, Reed, C (1988). Consumer-run mental health services: results from five demonstration projects. Community Mental Health Journal 24, 151–156.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Muir, K, Fisher, K, Abello, D, Dadich, A (2010). ‘I didn't like just sittin’ around all day': facilitating social and community participation among people with mental illness and high levels of psychiatric disability. Journal of Social Policy 39, 375–391.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nagel, T, Thompson, C (2006). Aboriginal mental health workers and the improving indigenous mental health service delivery model in the ‘Top End’. Australasian Psychiatry 14, 291–294.Google ScholarPubMed
Oliver, JP (1991). The social care directive: development of a quality of life profile for use in community services for the mentally ill. Social Work and Social Sciences Review 3, 5–45.Google Scholar
Overall, JE, Gorham, DR (1962). The brief psychiatric rating scale. Psychological Reports 10, 799–812.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pace, B (2010). Healthcare professionals and service user's perception of mental health support workers. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation 14, 57–66.Google Scholar
Phelan, M, Slade, M, Thornicroft, G, Dunn, G, Holloway, F, Wykes, T, Strathdee, G, Loftus, L, McCrone, P, Hayward, P (1995). The Camberwell assessment of need: the validity and reliability of an instrument to assess the needs of people with severe mental illness. British Journal of Psychiatry 167, 589–595.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reynolds, W, Lauder, W, Sharkey, S, Maciver, S, Veitch, T, Cameron, D (2004). The effects of a transitional discharge model for psychiatric patients. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 11, 82–88.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rivera, JJ, Sullivan, AM, Valenti, SS (2007). Adding consumer-providers to intensive case management: does it improve outcome? Psychiatric Services 58, 802–809.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rosen, A, Hadzi-Pavlovic, D, Parker, G (1989). The life skills profile: a measure assessing function and disability in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin 15, 325–337.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stein, CH, Rappaport, J, Seidman, E (1995). Assessing the social networks of people with psychiatric disability from multiple perspectives. Community Mental Health Journal 31, 351–367.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tauber, R, Wallace, CJ, Lecomte, T (2000). Enlisting indigenous community supporters in skills training programs for persons with severe mental illness. Psychiatric Services 51, 1428–1432.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomas, A (2004). The rise of social cooperatives in Italy. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations 15, 243–263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomas, H (1998). Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Effective Public Health Practice Project, McMaster University, Toronto.Google Scholar
Thornicroft, G, Tansella, M (2004). Components of a modern mental health service: a pragmatic balance of community and hospital care: overview of systematic evidence. British Journal of Psychiatry 185, 283–290.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tipper, R, Mountain, D, Lorimer, S, McIntosh, A (2006). Support workers' attitudes to mental illness: implications for reducing stigma. Psychiatric Bulletin 30, 179.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warner, W, Ford, R, Bagnall, S, Morgan, S, McDaid, C, Mawhinney, S (1998). Down Your Street: Models of Extended Community Support Services for People with Mental Health Problems. The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health: London, UK.Google Scholar
Weir, W, Rosen, A (1989). Living skills centres for people with serious psychiatric disorders. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal 36, 85–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whiteford, H (1994). Intersectoral policy reform is critical to the National Mental Health Strategy. Australian Journal of Public Health 18, 342–344.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wing, JK, Beevor, AS, Curtis, RH, Park, SB, Hadden, S, Burns, A (1998). Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS). Research and development, British Journal of Psychiatry 172, 11–18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wood, C, Pennebaker, D (2004). A classification of service types and glossary of terminology for non-government mental health services. HIM Journal 32, 41–50.Google ScholarPubMed