Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that is the result of personal experiences directly involved with or witnessing traumatic or life-threating events. PTSD has profound psychobiological co...Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that is the result of personal experiences directly involved with or witnessing traumatic or life-threating events. PTSD has profound psychobiological correlates, which can impair the person’s daily life and be life-threatening. The disorder is typically associated with military com-bat, acts of terrorism, sexual assault, bullying, exposure to abusive and toxic environments. The culture of prison encompasses and is the direct catalyst for consistent exposure to each of these elements. Considering that the United States leads the free world in the rate of incarceration, Prison-related PTSD is a serious public health and social issue. A sharp rise in ex-offenders that meet 3 or more of the criteria for diagnosing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the Fifth Edition of the Diag-nostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is alarming. We review the numbers and introduce a new perspective on how the Department of Corrections and Department of Justice can play a vital role by working to correct this problem. We discuss the need to provide long-term care for this underserved population, particularly those convicted of non-violent crimes. We present arguments in support of the notion there should be professional clinical resources available for individuals released from prison to help manage the symptoms of PTSD that were created primarily through incarceration.展开更多
The number of patients with mental disorders is increasing all over the world and they have a high prevalence of physical complications. To analyze and compare the cost of mental disorders with the total medical costs...The number of patients with mental disorders is increasing all over the world and they have a high prevalence of physical complications. To analyze and compare the cost of mental disorders with the total medical costs such as mental disorders and physical disorders, we analyzed the cost that patients with mental disorders incurred. We investigated the distribution of medical costs and the characteristics of diseases by using the health insurance claims of people in City A, Japan from March 2013 to February 2014. The subjects had one or more of 4 mental disorders: schizophrenia, alcohol related disorders, bipolar disorder, and depressive episode. As a result, the total number of patients who met inclusion criteria per year was 7403 (6522 outpatients and 881 inpatients). It was revealed that the hospitalization rate of patients with mental disorders increased with age, and many inpatients stayed in hospital for a long time. Also, it was revealed that many patients with mental disorders were in complicated condition with more than one mental or physical disorders and incurred medical costs for these comorbidities. In conclusion, this analysis indicated that many patients with mental disorders switch from attending the outpatient department to hospitalization as they become older. Further, they incurred a lot of medical expenses for complication management. To improve their QOL, comprehensive assessment of their mental/ physical health, self-management education, coordination of services, and support for decision making regarding treatment are necessary.展开更多
<strong>Background:</strong> In Greece, the provision of mental health services is limited to people residing in rural and remote areas. The operation of Mobile Mental Health Units (MMHUs) has been introdu...<strong>Background:</strong> In Greece, the provision of mental health services is limited to people residing in rural and remote areas. The operation of Mobile Mental Health Units (MMHUs) has been introduced in the Cyclades islands. It is an innovative policy intervention that has been shown to be effective and efficient internationally. <strong>Objective:</strong> The aim was to evaluate the operation of MMHUs in the Cyclades islands based on real-world evidence (RWE), from a societal perspective. <strong>Methods: </strong>A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed where outcomes and costs were elaborated and classified based on two comparators, 1) with MMHUs’ operation and 2) without MMHUs’ operation. Clinical primary outcomes were based on RWE data and were elaborated for the Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) values calculation, for a 12 months’ time horizon. Data descriptive statistics were performed with SPSS Statistics 22.0. Direct medical, non-medical and indirect costs were incorporated. Unit costs and monetary values were extracted from published data. Sensitivity analysis was undertaken to test the robustness of the results. <strong>Results:</strong> The operation of MMHUs in the Cyclades islands led to an incremental cost of €12,250.78 per DALY averted. A substantial higher increase is observed in the direct non-medical costs of the non-MMHUs’ operation where patients had to pay approximately €2,602 per capita annually for their transportation and accommodation due to hospitalization and outpatient care. Informal care expenses are 3 fold increasing in the non-MMHUs’ operation arm. Both direct non-medical and informal care costs correspond to high out of pocket payments totally covered by the patients. The sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the decision does not change when we varied the unit costs by ±10%. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> The operation of MMHUs appears to be a cost-effective option for treating patients with mental disorders in remote areas and islands in Greece. MMHUs appear to overcome the existing NHS structural inefficiencies by minimizing public expenditures and patients’ income losses by preventing and improving their mental health status.展开更多
文摘Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that is the result of personal experiences directly involved with or witnessing traumatic or life-threating events. PTSD has profound psychobiological correlates, which can impair the person’s daily life and be life-threatening. The disorder is typically associated with military com-bat, acts of terrorism, sexual assault, bullying, exposure to abusive and toxic environments. The culture of prison encompasses and is the direct catalyst for consistent exposure to each of these elements. Considering that the United States leads the free world in the rate of incarceration, Prison-related PTSD is a serious public health and social issue. A sharp rise in ex-offenders that meet 3 or more of the criteria for diagnosing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the Fifth Edition of the Diag-nostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is alarming. We review the numbers and introduce a new perspective on how the Department of Corrections and Department of Justice can play a vital role by working to correct this problem. We discuss the need to provide long-term care for this underserved population, particularly those convicted of non-violent crimes. We present arguments in support of the notion there should be professional clinical resources available for individuals released from prison to help manage the symptoms of PTSD that were created primarily through incarceration.
文摘The number of patients with mental disorders is increasing all over the world and they have a high prevalence of physical complications. To analyze and compare the cost of mental disorders with the total medical costs such as mental disorders and physical disorders, we analyzed the cost that patients with mental disorders incurred. We investigated the distribution of medical costs and the characteristics of diseases by using the health insurance claims of people in City A, Japan from March 2013 to February 2014. The subjects had one or more of 4 mental disorders: schizophrenia, alcohol related disorders, bipolar disorder, and depressive episode. As a result, the total number of patients who met inclusion criteria per year was 7403 (6522 outpatients and 881 inpatients). It was revealed that the hospitalization rate of patients with mental disorders increased with age, and many inpatients stayed in hospital for a long time. Also, it was revealed that many patients with mental disorders were in complicated condition with more than one mental or physical disorders and incurred medical costs for these comorbidities. In conclusion, this analysis indicated that many patients with mental disorders switch from attending the outpatient department to hospitalization as they become older. Further, they incurred a lot of medical expenses for complication management. To improve their QOL, comprehensive assessment of their mental/ physical health, self-management education, coordination of services, and support for decision making regarding treatment are necessary.
文摘<strong>Background:</strong> In Greece, the provision of mental health services is limited to people residing in rural and remote areas. The operation of Mobile Mental Health Units (MMHUs) has been introduced in the Cyclades islands. It is an innovative policy intervention that has been shown to be effective and efficient internationally. <strong>Objective:</strong> The aim was to evaluate the operation of MMHUs in the Cyclades islands based on real-world evidence (RWE), from a societal perspective. <strong>Methods: </strong>A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed where outcomes and costs were elaborated and classified based on two comparators, 1) with MMHUs’ operation and 2) without MMHUs’ operation. Clinical primary outcomes were based on RWE data and were elaborated for the Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) values calculation, for a 12 months’ time horizon. Data descriptive statistics were performed with SPSS Statistics 22.0. Direct medical, non-medical and indirect costs were incorporated. Unit costs and monetary values were extracted from published data. Sensitivity analysis was undertaken to test the robustness of the results. <strong>Results:</strong> The operation of MMHUs in the Cyclades islands led to an incremental cost of €12,250.78 per DALY averted. A substantial higher increase is observed in the direct non-medical costs of the non-MMHUs’ operation where patients had to pay approximately €2,602 per capita annually for their transportation and accommodation due to hospitalization and outpatient care. Informal care expenses are 3 fold increasing in the non-MMHUs’ operation arm. Both direct non-medical and informal care costs correspond to high out of pocket payments totally covered by the patients. The sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the decision does not change when we varied the unit costs by ±10%. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> The operation of MMHUs appears to be a cost-effective option for treating patients with mental disorders in remote areas and islands in Greece. MMHUs appear to overcome the existing NHS structural inefficiencies by minimizing public expenditures and patients’ income losses by preventing and improving their mental health status.
