Organization of Community Mental Health Services for Persons with a Severe Mental Illness and Comorbid Somatic Conditions: A Systematic Review on Somatic Outcomes and Health Related Quality of Life

Nicolaas Martens, Marianne Destoop and Geert Dom
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Nicolaas Martens: Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), Antwerp University, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Marianne Destoop: Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), Antwerp University, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Geert Dom: Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), Antwerp University, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-19

Abstract: It is well established that persons with a severe mental illness (SMI) have a greater risk of physical comorbid conditions and premature mortality. Most studies in the field of community mental health care (CMHC) have only focused on improving cardiovascular health in people with a SMI using lifestyle approaches. Studies using organizational modifications are rather scarce. This systematic review aimed to synthesize and describe possible organizational strategies to improve physical health for persons with a SMI in CMHC. The primary outcome was Health-related Quality of Life (HR-QOL). Results suggested modest effects on quality of life and were inconsistent throughout all the included studies. Despite these findings, it appears that a more integrated approach had a positive effect on health outcomes, patient satisfaction and HR-QOL. The complexity of the processes involved in community care delivery makes it difficult to compare different models and organizational approaches. Mental health nurses were identified as possible key professionals in care organization, but no clear description of their role was found. This review could provide new insights into contributing factors for integrated care. Future research targeting the identification of the nurses’ role and facilitating factors in integrated care, in order to improve treatment and follow-up of somatic comorbidities, is recommended.

Keywords: community mental healthcare; severe mental illness; physical health; mental health nursing; collaborative care; public mental health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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