Exploring the Relationship Between Brief Inpatient Treatment Intensity and Treatment Outcomes for Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Few studies have identified effective nursing interventions for today’s psychiatric settings. OBJECTIVES: This article reports findings from a study that explored the relationship between brief inpatient treatment intensity (average daily frequencies of treatment activities) and treatment outcomes (symptomatology, functioning, and readmission rates up to 3 months postdischarge) among 67 inpatients treated for mood and anxiety disorders. DESIGN: By using an evaluation design, multiple outcome measures were completed by patients, family members, and clinicians at admission and discharge. Nurses recorded all patient activities on a tool developed by the authors. RESULTS: Spearman rank correlations and nonparametric regression models indicated that greater community/leisure treatment activities were associated with greater improvements in patient symptoms and functioning. In addition, lower admission functioning was associated with poorer functioning improvements (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients may have better outcomes when they actively engage in the inpatient treatment milieu. Further study with rigorous methods is needed to identify effective psychiatric nursing interventions.