The Impact of a Psychiatric Home Care Program on Mental Health Services Utilization and Costs in Spain

Crisis resolution and home treatment (CRHT) is a home-based alternative to acute psychiatric hospitalization. A retrospective cohort study in Spain measured the impact of CRHT on mental health resource utilization, comparing emergency department (ED) visits, acute admissions, and length of stay. The authors compared three CRHT catchment areas (N=298,935 adults) with three control areas without CRHT (N=157,334 adults). The mean cost of CRHT was compared with that of inpatient hospitalization. Results showed that CRHT models may be associated with a reduction in ED visits and potentially lower mean costs per stay; however, these findings were not statistically significant. Further research is needed to confirm the long-term benefits of CRHT.