Individual Health Budgets in Mental Health: Results of Its Implementation in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Italy

Elisa Fontecedro, Morena Furlan, Davide Tossut, Elisabetta Pascolo-Fabrici, Matteo Balestrieri, Luis Salvador-Carulla, Barbara D’Avanzo and Giulio Castelpietra
Additional contact information
Elisa Fontecedro: Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
Morena Furlan: Central Health Directorate, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, 34100 Trieste, Italy
Davide Tossut: Welfare Area, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, 33057 Palmanova, Italy
Elisabetta Pascolo-Fabrici: Clinical Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
Matteo Balestrieri: Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
Luis Salvador-Carulla: Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, ANU College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, 2601 Canberra, Australia
Barbara D’Avanzo: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, IRCCS, 20156 Milano, Italy
Giulio Castelpietra: Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-16

Abstract: Background: Individual Health Budget (IHB) is an intervention for recovery in mental health services, providing personalized care for subjects with severe disorders and complex needs. Little is known on its effectiveness and on the criteria for its delivery. Methods: A total of 67 IHB beneficiaries and 61 comparators were recruited among service users of the Mental Health Department of the Trieste Healthcare Agency, Italy. Data included sociodemographic and clinical variables, type of IHB, and Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNOS) scores. Results: A comparison between groups showed significant differences in several socioeconomic and clinical characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression showed that IHB was positively associated to the 20–49 age group, single status, unemployment, low family support, cohabitation with relatives or friends, diagnosis of personality disorder, and a higher number of hospitalizations. The IHB group was at a higher risk of severe problems related to aggressive or agitated behaviors (OR = 1.4), hallucinations and delusions (OR = 1.5), and impairment in everyday life activities (OR = 2.1). Conclusions: IHB was used in patients with severe clinical and social problems. More resources, however, may be aimed at the working and social axes. More research is needed to better assess clinical and social outcomes of IHB and to adjust their intensity in a longitudinal perspective in order to enhance cost-effectiveness.

Keywords: Individual Health Budget; personal budget; recovery; personalized care; mental disorders; mental health services (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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