Koekkoek Bauke, van Baarsen Carlijn, Steenbeek Mirella
Research Group Social Psychiatry & Mental Health Nursing, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Pro Persona Mental Health Care, ProCES, Wolfheze, The Netherlands.
Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2016 Jul;52(3):217-23. doi: 10.1111/ppc.12120. Epub 2015 May 5.
To determine the effects of multidisciplinary, nurse-led psychiatric consultation on behavioral problems of nursing home residents. Residents often suffer from psychiatric symptoms, while staff psychiatric expertise varies.
A pre-post study was conducted in seven homes using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Nursing Home version (NPI-NH).
In 71 consultations during 18 months, 56-75% of residents suffered from agitation/aggression, depression, anxiety, and disinhibition. Post-intervention (n = 54), frequency, and severity of psychiatric symptoms were significantly and clinically meaningfully reduced. Also, staff suffered from less work stress.
Nurse-led psychiatric consultation is valuable to both nursing home residents and staff.
