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Survey of community mental health teams

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Natasha Mauthner
Affiliation:
Research Unit in Health and Behavioural Change, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh
Simon Naji*
Affiliation:
Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, Drew Kay Wing, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD
Jill Mollison
Affiliation:
Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, Drew Kay Wing, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD
*
Correspondence
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Abstract

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Aims and method

The aim of the study was to describe community mental health teams (CMHTs) working In Scotland. Interviews, a focus group, and a postal questionnaire survey of Identified CMHTs were carried out.

Results

Of the 53 teams identified, 42 (79%) completed questionnaires. The average team size was 11 people. Community psychiatric nurses were in all teams, social workers and psychiatrists were in most, but psychologists were in only half. Needs assessments occurred in only 17% of teams. Fifty-one per cent of teams had open referral systems, and 38% of referrals comprised people with long-term mental health problems. Fifteen per cent of referrals were considered by teams to be inappropriate.

Clinical implications

Ambiguities about appropriate structures, patient groups and interprofessional and inter-agency working require further consideration and evaluation if CMHT care is to be optimally effective.

Type
Original Papers
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

References

Onyett, S., Heppleston, T. & Bushnell, D. (1994) A national survey of community mental health teams. Journal of Mental Health, 3, 175194.Google Scholar
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