Patients’ subjective initial response and the outcome of inpatient and day hospital treatment

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to establish whether psychiatric patients' subjective initial response (SIR) to hospital and day hospital treatment predicts outcomes over a one-year follow-up period. METHOD: We analysed data from 765 patients who were randomised to acute psychiatric treatment in a hospital or day hospital. SIR was assessed on day 3 after admission. Outcomes were psychiatric symptom levels and social disability at discharge, and at 3 and 12 months after discharge. RESULTS: After controlling for socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, a more positive SIR was significantly associated with lower symptom levels at discharge and 3 months after discharge and lower social disability at 3 months and 12 months after discharge. CONCLUSION: SIR can predict outcomes of complex interventions over a one-year period. Patients' initial views of acute hospital and day treatment should be elicited and considered as important.