Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

HSR Citation Abstract

Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title

Outpatient follow-up after psychiatric hospitalization for depression and later readmission and treatment adequacy.

Pfeiffer PN, Ganoczy D, Zivin K, McCarthy JF, Valenstein M, Blow FC. Outpatient follow-up after psychiatric hospitalization for depression and later readmission and treatment adequacy. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.). 2012 Dec 1; 63(12):1239-42.

Related HSR&D Project(s)

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

If you have VA-Intranet access, click here for more information vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/dimensions/

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.
   Search Dimensions for VA for this citation
* Don't have VA-internal network access or a VA email address? Try searching the free-to-the-public version of Dimensions



Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: The study evaluated whether timely postdischarge follow-up, a health system quality indicator, corresponded with improved longer-term posthospital care for depression. METHODS: The authors assessed outpatient mental health encounters, including telephone contact, within seven days of discharge among 56,785 Veterans Health Administration patients with an inpatient stay for major depression between 2005 and 2010. They also assessed readmission rates, antidepressant medication coverage, and psychotherapy visits for 90 days following discharge. RESULTS: The percentage of patients who received outpatient follow-up within seven days of discharge increased from 39% to 75%. After adjustment for patient characteristics, patients were more likely to receive adequate psychotherapy in 2010 than in 2005 (odds ratio = 1.29, 95% confidence interval = 1.19-1.40). There were no significant changes in readmission or antidepressant treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Timely outpatient follow-up after hospitalization may not reduce readmission or substantially improve longer-term depression treatment, suggesting a need for additional or more effective care processes.





Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.