The feasibility and efficacy of intensive home treatment (IHT)

INTERVENTION: Intervention: Intensive home treatment is a treatment modality that addresses some of the imperfections of inpatient crisis care by providing intensive care in the patients' home setting, thus maximising the utilization of the patient's social system in providing crisis care and support and limiting the duration of hospitalisation following psychiatric crisis. It also allows for a more gradual transition between in‐patient care and low intensity out‐patient/out‐reaching care. IHT starts immediately after reference by a specialised health care professional. Control (Care As Usual): CAU commonly starts with inpatient care. During hospitalisation, mental health workers in the psychiatric hospital will stabilize and treat the patient and prepare his/her return to the home situation, in collaboration with outpatient mental health workers (excluding the IHT team). The outpatient care in the CAU condition is much less intensive then IHT. CONDITION: Psychiatric crisis ; ; PRIMARY OUTCOME: The number of admission days. SECONDARY OUTCOME: ‐ Safety of the patient and his/her direct social environment ; ; ‐ Mental well‐being ; ; ‐ General functioning ; ; ‐ Quality of life ; ; INCLUSION CRITERIA: ‐ Admission to a clinical crisis care department is indicated (or compulsory). ‐ There is at least one axis I or II disorder diagnosed in the patient. ‐ The patient is a resident of Amsterdam area, the Netherlands. ‐ Age 18 years or older. ‐ Written informed consent has been provided by the patient.