An evaluation of three crisis intervention programmes for general hospital patients

Three crisis intervention programmes were implemented on the basis of prior research and observation with patients in a general hospital. Programme 1 had been designed to decrease their anxiety and depression, programme 2 to decrease their indirectly expressed anger and increase anger which was directly expressed, and programme 3 to decrease the feelings of helplessness and increase their levels of competence. Examination of the psychological states of the sample of ill and injured patients on admission showed that those who were judged to have a poor counselling prognosis were found, as hypothesized, to be highly anxious, depressed and helpless, and to be expressing their anger only indirectly. The goals of the programmes therefore seem to have been appropriately selected to meet the psychological needs of the patients. After crisis intervention counselling, these differences on admission were no longer apparent on discharge or on follow-up 12 months later. Programme 1 did not prove differentially effective on discharge or follow-up. Programme 2 was not found to be more effective than the other programmes on discharge but, as hypothesized, was associated with direct expression of anger and decreased anxiety and depression more at follow-up. Programme 3 increased patients' expressions of competence and decreased their anxiety more on discharge; but on follow-up it proved more liable to maintain their depression than to have beneficial effects.