Domiciliary hospitalisation as an effective alternative to treat patients with an acute psychiatric crisis, compared to the traditional method

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Domiciliary Hospitalisation (DH) is presented as an alternative to traditional hospitalisation (TH) when it comes to treating patients during an acute psychiatric crisis, providing assessment to the patients in their home, understood as its social environment and family. Nevertheless, even though there are multiple studies developed regarding the treated topic, no conclusive data is obtained from them. Therefore, with this present study, we aim to assess the effectiveness of the DH model, and its impact on further patient outcomes, finding and producing evidence of it.

METHODS This study is designed as a longitudinal prospective cohort study population-based, and will be carried out in the Xarxa de Salut Mental of Girona’s region, based in Parc Hospitalari Marti I Julià, located in Girona. The study will be held between February 2024 and August 2026, including the recruitment period, the follow-up, and the post-discharge assessments. Comparison is set between the population from those areas, aged from 18 to 65, receiving DH or standard hospitalisation, and the other populations, who can only be treated with the traditional method. For the analysis, we will compare our variables on the first day of treatment (T1), right before discharge (T2), 6 months after discharge (T3), and 12 months after discharge (t4), in all groups. The main objective isto assess Domiciliary Hospitalisation as an effective alternative to traditional hospitalisation by obtaining positive clinical and functional outcomes. In addition, secondary aims are reducing the inpatient admissions to the acute and subacute unit and the readmission rate, as well as creating a linkage to the mental health system and achieving safety, acceptance, and satisfaction both for the patient and the family, and a reduction in the burden and mental health stigma