Comparison of "Home Treatment" with Traditional Inpatient Treatment in a Mental Hospital in Rural Southern Germany

Objective To investigate the clinical effectiveness of "Home Treatment" (HT) in comparison to the usual inpatient treatment in patients with acute psychiatric illness. Methods In a prospective observational study we compared 60 of our HT patients to 18 patients receiving inpatient treatment as usual (TAU) with regard to psychopathological symptoms (PANSS, HAM-D 21), global functioning (GAF), symptom severity (HoNOS-D) and sociodemographic parameters at admission and discharge. Results HT was a feasible alternative in patients with several different psychiatric diagnoses and appeared to be similar to TAU in view of clinical effectiveness. Conclusions In potentially suitable patients fulfilling criteria of hospital admission, the alternative of HT can be actively considered.