Australas Psychiatry. 2022 May 4:10398562221080740. doi: 10.1177/10398562221080740. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Test whether extra time with alcohol and drug nurses for inpatients at a Mental Health Unit (MHU) reduces post-discharge mental and co-occurring alcohol and drug problems and increases engagement in alcohol and drug treatment more than a Brief Information Pack (BIP).
METHOD: Single blind randomised control trial in block design compared two alcohol and drug nurse delivered interventions over 6 months post-discharge using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and Brief Symptom Inventory index of overall psychological distress Global Severity Index (GSI).
RESULTS: Alcohol and drug nurse delivered BIP was associated with a statistically significant reduction in AUDIT measured alcohol use for the highest follow-up score across the 6-month post-discharge period, n = 20, t = 2.24, p = 0.037, d = 0.50 and for the extra time intervention, n = 11, t = 2.51, p = 0.031, d = 0.76.
CONCLUSIONS: MHUs may benefit from the integration of alcohol and drug nurses with community alcohol and drug treatment experience.
PMID:35506425 | DOI:10.1177/10398562221080740
