Consultations for refractory cases in mental health services: a descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Yearly, almost six percent, which is more than 1,000.000 people, in the Netherlands receive mental health treatment, which usually improves their quality of life. Concurrently, mental healthcare professionals recognize clinically refractory cases in which improvement fails to occur, with severe ongoing burdens for patients. The Dutch Centre for Consultation and Expertise (CCE) is available to support such refractory cases. The Dutch government's (financial) facilitation of consultation through the CCE is unique in the world. CCE consultations provide therefore unique insight into and an overview of refractory cases in mental health services. The objective of this study was to gain insight into the commonalities underlying the reasons for CCE consultations and the solutions proposed that play roles in (the reduction of) refractory cases for which consultation has been requested. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted with quantitative and qualitative data from 472 CCE consultations in the Netherlands. Using descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis, four exemplary situations were distilled from the qualitative data. RESULTS: Most (83%) cases in the sample could be explained with four exemplary situations involving self-harm (24.2%), aggression (21.8%), self-neglect (24.4%), and socially unacceptable behavior (12.5%), respectively. Each situation could be characterized by a specific interaction pattern that unintentionally maintained or aggravated the situation. At the time of closure of the consultation applicants' questions had been answered and their situations had improved in 60.4% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers an overview of approaches that provided new perspectives for patients and professionals in many refractory cases in the Dutch mental health services.

[Consultation in refractory cases in mental health care: a descriptive study]. / Consultaties bij vastgelopen behandel­situaties: een descriptieve studie.

BACKGROUND: Yearly, over 1.000.000 people receive mental health care treatment in the Netherlands. Treatment usually results in improvement in quality of life. Concurrently, each professional recognizes clinically refractory cases in which improvement fails to occur with severe ongoing burden for the client. In the Netherlands, for these clinically refractory cases the Centre of Consultation and Expertise (CCE) is available. The CCE is an independent nation-wide organisation offering free consultations to care providers. Therefore, CCE-consultations provide a unique insight in and overview of refractory cases. AIM: Providing overview of and insight into backgrounds and themes that play a role in (the reduction of) refractory cases. METHOD: Descriptive study of quantitative and qualitative data from 472 consultations in mental health care. RESULTS: 83% of cases could be explained with 4 exemplary vignettes of refractoriness: self-harm, aggression, self-neglect and socially unacceptable behaviour. CONCLUSION: Refractory cases result from an interaction pattern that unintentionally maintains or aggravates the situation. This study offers an overview of approaches that proved to be helpful in providing new perspective for clients and professionals in many therapy refractory cases in Dutch mental health care.