Discharge interventions from inpatient child and adolescent mental health care: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Healthcare Management
• Public Health

Background:

• The post-discharge period presents significant vulnerability for pediatric patients, especially those transitioning from inpatient child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).
• Inadequate discharge planning and care continuity increase risks of readmission and other adverse events in this population.
• There is a limited understanding of the specific interventions designed to facilitate successful discharges from CAMHS and their effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review to identify and describe the structure, components, and outcomes of existing discharge interventions for inpatient CAMHS.
• To synthesize the current literature on interventions aimed at supporting children and youth during the transition from inpatient mental health care.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review methodology was employed to systematically identify relevant literature.
• Nineteen documents discussing discharge interventions from inpatient CAMHS were included in the final analysis.
• Intervention elements were categorized into pre-discharge, post-discharge, and bridging components.

Main Results:

• Identified intervention components include risk assessment, individualized care planning, discharge preparation, community resource linkage, psychoeducation, and follow-up support.
• Reported outcomes demonstrated positive patient and caregiver satisfaction, improved patient health, and enhanced cost-effectiveness.
• The literature consistently highlights the importance of discharge interventions in mitigating patient and family vulnerability.

Conclusions:

• Discharge interventions from inpatient CAMHS, despite structural variability, are vital for patient and family well-being post-discharge.
• Current findings are constrained by inconsistent reporting and heterogeneity across studies.
• Further research is essential to refine the design, implementation, and evaluation of effective discharge support interventions for this vulnerable group.