Service Users' and Carers' Experiences With Home Treatment Teams Within Mental Health Services: A Scoping Review

A home treatment team (HTT) is a mental health service that provides fast, intensive interventions to service users who are experiencing a mental health crisis, and it can be an alternative to hospital admission. To date, little research has focused on service users' and carers' experiences. The aim of this scoping review was to analyze the current evidence on service users' and carers' experiences with HTTs to identify key concepts and to highlight gaps in knowledge.

A scoping review was conducted by searching five databases. Relevant secondary sources also were reviewed. Studies that focused on HTT services and on adults or service users of working age (16-64 years) were included. The quality of the articles included in the final review was assessed with different tools, depending on each study's methodology.

Seven studies were included, six of which were of moderate or high quality. Overall, service users and carers were satisfied with HTT services, compared with alternatives such as hospitalization. Three themes contributing to experiences with HTTs were identified: accessibility, the relationship with HTT staff members, and a sense of empowerment. Transitions between services were particularly sensitive periods for service users and carers and therefore often a focus of their experiences.

The findings of this review show the relevance to HTT service users of HTT accessibility, the interpersonal therapeutic relationship, and the empowerment of patients. These aspects could be helpful in understanding and improving HTT services and the outcomes of those services.