Background: Severe mental illness (SMI) refers to chronic psychiatric conditions that significantly impair daily functioning and often require intensive interventions, such as prolonged hospitalizations or structured treatment programs. In recent years, home-based intensive treatments have rapidly expanded to offer continuous and personalized support, but evidence of their effectiveness remains fragmented, limiting the development of effective and sustainable care strategies.
The objective of this study is therefore to conduct a review of the literature on crisis-focused intensive home treatment for SMI, with the aim of synthesizing current knowledge, assessing its impact on key clinical outcomes, and identifying areas that require further investigation.
Methods: We conducted our search in three databases: PubMed, Embase, and Psychoinfo. We included all randomized controlled trials comparing crisis-intervention models with standard care for individuals with severe mental illness that met our inclusion criteria. Two independent reviewers extracted data from these trials, and we estimated risk ratios or mean differences, with 95% confidence intervals. All included studies were assessed using the Risk of Bias 2 Tool.
Results: Preliminary data suggest that home-based crisis intervention may reduce rehospitalizations and caregiver burden, while improving mental state and patient satisfaction. However, its effects on long-term quality of life, mortality, and costs remain uncertain.
Conclusions: Crisis-focused intensive home treatment appears to offer clinical benefits for individuals with SMI. However, further research is needed to better understand its broader implications and long-term outcomes.
Antimo NATALE
Leave a Reply