The DOI matches its Crossref record; 134 of the 134 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Disengagement from mental health services: A literature review
Abstract
This paper reviews the literature on disengagement from mental health services examining how the terms engagement and disengagement are defined, what proportion of patients disengage from services, and what sociodemographic variables predict disengagement. Both engagement and disengagement appear to be poorly conceptualised, with a lack of consensus on accepted and agreed definitions. Rates of disengagement from mental health services vary from 4 to 46%, depending on the study setting, service type and definition of engagement used. Sociodemographic and clinical predictors of disengagement also vary, with only a few consistent findings, suggesting that such associations are complex and multifaceted. Most commonly reported associations of disengagement appear to be with sociodemographic variables including young age, ethnicity and deprivation; clinical variables such as lack of insight, substance misuse and forensic history; and service level variables such as availability of assertive outreach provision. Given the importance of continuity of care in serious mental disorders, there is a need for a consensual, validated and reliable measure of engagement which can be used to explore associations between patient, illness and service related variables and can inform service provision for difficult to reach patients.
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“This is important, as attrition is expected in mental health populations [89, 90] and is closely linked to engagement [91].”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [89]
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Metadata
- Authors
- O’Brien, A., Fahmy, R., & Singh, S. P.
- Affiliations
- St George's, University of London (GB)
- University of Warwick (GB)
- Corresponding author
- O’Brien, Aileen
- Venue
- Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
- Published
- 2008-11-26
- Volume
- 44
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 558-568
- ISSN
- 0933-7954 (ISSN-L)
- 1433-9285
- OpenAlex
- W2082092421
- Cited by
- 283
- References
- 133
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 7.58
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mental Health and Patient Involvement
- Keywords
- patient engagement, engagement measurement, sociodemographic factors, lack of insight, substance abuse, forensic history, assertive outreach, continuity of care, severe mental illness, service availability
- MeSH terms
- Attitude to Health, Mental Disorders, Community Mental Health Services, Continuity of Patient Care, United Kingdom, Health Services Accessibility, Health Services Needs and Demand, Humans, Mental Health Services, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Patient Dropouts, Research Design, Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry)
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