The association between Open Dialogue to young Danes in acute psychiatric crisis and their use of health care and social services: A retrospective register-based cohort study

Background: Although most mental disorders have their onset in early life, the mental health needs of young people are often not addressed adequately. Open Dialogue is a need-adapted approach that mobilizes psychosocial resources in a crisis struck person's social network. Open Dialogue is organised as a series of network meetings and seeks to promote collaborative integrated care, and a non-directive psychotherapeutic stance. Its effectiveness for young people has not previously been assessed. Objectives: The aim of the study was to examine whether a Danish Open Dialogue approach directed at young people, who sought help from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, reduced their utilisation of psychiatric and other health services, compared to peers receiving usual psychiatric treatment. Design: A retrospective register-based cohort study. Methods: Using clinical and national register data, a cohort of patients aged 14–19 years (n = 503) enrolled from one region during 2000 to 2015 were compared to a matched comparison group from two other regions using propensity scores. Utilisation of psychiatric health services, GP services, and social markers were assessed after 1, 2, 5 and 10 year of follow-up using logistic and Poisson regression models. Results: Patients receiving Open Dialogue intervention had more psychiatric outpatient treatments at one year of follow-up (RR = 1.2, CI: 1.1–1.4) than the comparison group, but not at subsequent follow-ups. Recipients of the intervention had fewer emergency psychiatric treatments (1 year follow-up: RR = 0.2, CI: 0.1-0.5; 10 years follow-up: RR = 0.5, CI: 0.3-0.8) and less use of general practitioner services (1 year follow-up: RR = 0.90, CI: 0.82-0.99; 10 years follow-up: RR = 0.85, CI: 0.78-0.92). There was no significant reduction in the number of psychiatric hospitalisation contacts or treatment days. Conclusions: Open Dialogue was significantly associated with some reduced risks of utilising health care services. These mixed results should be tested in a randomized design.