Considering variables for the assignment of patients with schizophrenia to a case management programme

Abstract

The elements and intensity of Case Management (CM) practices should be established according to patients' needs. Therefore, it is important to improve the knowledge of the needs of patients in such a community-based intervention. This paper deals with this issue by characterizing two groups of patients receiving CM or a Standard Treatment Programme (STP) and identifying the patients' characteristics associated with the provision of CM services. We recruited 241 patients with schizophrenia from 10 Adult Mental Health Centers from Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). We analyzed the profile of new patients included in a clinical and non-intensive CM program with that of patients in a STP. CM patients showed a poorer profile. Community psychiatric visits, social services, education, physical health, needs and positive symptoms were significantly associated with the provision of CM services. This study may help in identifying patients' necessities and strengthen the CM programme.