patvann/external-referral-for-serious-mental-illness

Referral for psychological therapy of people with long term conditions improves adherence to antidepressants and reduces emergency department attendance: Controlled before and after study

Long term conditions (LTCs) are common and an increasing proportion of the burden of disease (Lopez, Mathers, Ezzati, Jamison, Murray, 2006; Mathers, Boerma, & Ma Fat, 2009). People with LTCs have a higher prevalence of common mental health problems (CMHP), principally depression and anxiety (Patten, 2001; Patten et al., 2008; Shen, Sambamoorthi, & Rust, 2008). People with chronic physical conditions and mental illness are more likely to use emergency services and have higher total, outpatient, and pharmaceutical expenditures than those without mental illness (Shen et al., 2008).