Abstract
Objectives. To examine the relation between therapeutic relationship and continuity of extra-hospital mental health care.
Method. Two groups participated in the study: 64 patients and 10 professionals from the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT), and 25 patients and 9 professionals from the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic. The patients had been diagnosed with psychotic spectrum disorders according to the ICD-10 criteria. Symptom severity was measured using the PANSS, therapeutic relationship – by means of the STAR scale, while continuity of care was assessed with a questionnaire developed by the authors and based on a Canadian program. In the statistical analysis Spearman's rank correlation and the Kruskal-Wallis test were applied.
Results. Therapeutic relationship was rated higher by professionals if mental health care was provided to the patient by the same person (provider continuity). Therapeutic relationship with patients manifesting less severe psychotic symptoms was rated higher by professionals in both types of settings, i.e. in the community-based and outpatient care. Moreover, professionals perceived less emotional difficulties in their work with patients diagnosed with more numerous psychotic symptoms. Older patients tended to give higher ratings of the therapeutic relationship and some of its dimensions, such as "positive co-operation" and "positive interventions". Higher ratings of their interventions provided to the patients were given by older psychiatrists and therapists.
Conclusions. Provider continuity is important for professionals' assessment of therapeutic relationship in general and of its aspects such as "positive cooperation" and "positive effects of intervention".