Acute mental health care and South African mental health legislation Part 1- morbidity, treatment and outcome

RESUMO

Objective: This is the first of three reports on a follow-up review of mental health care at Helen Joseph Hospital (HJH). In this first part; qualitative and quantitative descriptions were made of the services and of demographic and clinical data on acute mental health care users managed at HJH; in a retrospective review of clinical records over a four year period. Objectives for this review were to provide information on mental health care outcome; to do a cost analysis and to establish a quality assurance cycle that may facilitate a cost centre management approach. The operational areas identified were service delivery; teaching; and research. Activities within each area were in-patient care; out-patients and consultation/liaison; under- and postgraduate teaching and self initiated or contract research. Method: The study reviewed the existing mental health care program and activities in context of relevant policy and legislation. Results: Norms from a World Health Organization model for acute mental health care showed that significant staff shortages existed; especially for nursing. A total of 520 users were admitted for in-patient mental health care during the financial year 2007/08. The average length of stay was 15.4 days and ranged from 1 to 85 days. Ninety users (17) had an extended period of stay of 25 days and more; while 39 users had multiple admissions during the 12 month period. The most common Axis I diagnoses made were schizophrenia n=138 (29); substance-related conditions n=99 (21) and bipolar mood disorder n=69 (14). After discharge; 139 users (27) were referred back to the HJH out-patient department for follow-up. Conclusion: The information from these reports may be used in the allocation of adequate resources to align this acute unit with its responsibilities according to recent legislation