Table 3.

Frequency of HSU outcomes used across included studies (n=28)

Primary care HSU	n	General health*		Compulsory admissions	1
Mental health		Nurse contacts	4	Psychiatric treatment days	1
GP contact(s) for psychological problems	6	Home carer visits	3	Total	9
Referrals to psychiatrist	1	Any community service attendance	2
Support group attendances	2	General medical ward attendances	2	General health*
Total	9	Occupational therapist contacts	2	Inpatient days	9
		Outreach worker contacts	2	A&E attendances	8
General health*		Care attendant contacts	1	Inpatient admissions	8
GP contacts	7	Care manager contacts	1	Non-psychiatric inpatient days	2
GP phone calls	2	Chiropodist contacts	1	Sheltered workshop attendances	1
GP visits	2	Continuing care /respite contacts	1	Sitting scheme worker contacts	1
Referrals to specialists	2	Counselling attendance	1	Specialist education attendances	1
Sick notes issued	2	Day hospital contacts	1	Total inpatient service use	1
Total	15	Dietician contacts	1	Total	31
		Family support worker contacts	1
Specialist HSU	n	Health visitor contacts	1	Total and other HSU	n
Mental health		Informal/voluntary care contacts	1	Total HSU	8
Medication usage†	12	Inpatient rehabilitation contacts	1	Other’ HSU	1
Psychotherapy attendance(s)	6	NHS contacts	1	Any service use for psychological problem	1
Community psychiatric nurse contacts	5	Non-psychiatric outpatient attendances	1	Client Services Receipt Inventory	2
Psychiatrist contact(s)	5	Other inpatient ward contacts	1	Total	12
Psychologist contact(s)	5	Other nursing service contacts	1
Outpatient attendances	4	Other specialist contacts	1	Summary totals	n
Counsellor contacts	3	Physiotherapist contacts	1	Primary Care HSU	24
Day care attendances	2	Total	32	Specialist HSU	79
CMHT contacts	2			Inpatient HSU	40
DBT attendances	1	Inpatient HSU	n	Total and other HSU	12
Psychiatric outpatient attendances	1	Mental health		Mental health HSU	65
Psychologist/psychiatrist contacts	1	Psychiatric inpatient admission(s)	5	General health HSU	78
Total	47	Psychiatric inpatient days	1	Types of outcome variables	60
		Psychiatric outpatient attendances	1	Times outcomes assessed	155

*General health refers to HSU that was not specified as being directly linked to mental ill health.

†Type of medication varied widely.

A&E, accident and emergency; CMHT, community mental health team; CSRI, Client Services Receipt Inventory;²⁴ DBT, dialectical behaviour therapy; HSU, health service utilisation; NHS, National Health Service.