Verweildauer in der stationären Depressionsbehandlung. Ergebnisse einer Multicenterstudie zum Effekt eines neuen Behandlungsmodells

BACKGROUND: Patients with depression are treated for a relatively long period as inpatients in Germany. A new treatment model with symptom-orientated release management, post-hospitalization treatment and standardized referral to outpatient therapists could be suitable to specifically shorten the hospital stay of patients who have already profited sufficiently from treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a new treatment method (intervention group) with hospitalized depressive patients in comparison to a standard protocol (treatment-as-usual control group) on the length of stay as part of a pragmatic randomized, controlled multicentre study. The evaluation was made using covariance analysis.

RESULTS: Of the 202 randomized patients 184 could be included in the analysis. The estimated marginal mean of the length of stay (n = 83) was 57.3 days (range 1-305 days, SE = 3.8) in the intervention group and (n = 101) 57.6 days (range: 6-196 days, SE = 3.5) in the control group. There were no significant statistical differences between the groups (p = 0.966).

CONCLUSIONS: An effect of the new treatment model on the inpatient length of hospital stay in depressive patients could not be demonstrated.