Deliberative efforts are constantly made to provide community-based mental health rehabilitation services to people with mental health disabilities nationwide. In this study we aimed to assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation services in Israel by assessing the impact of utilization of rehabilitation services on hospitalization rates among a cohort of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Data derived from the Clalit Health Services were crossed with the Ministry of Health rehabilitation and psychiatric hospitalization case registries. Patients utilizing rehabilitation services were assessed for rates and durations of hospitalizations before and after the utilization of the rehabilitation services, and were compared to patients who did not use these services (n = 185). Mixed-model analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were conducted to assess changes in rates and durations of hospitalizations at the beginning and end of the cohort period. Patients who used rehabilitation services showed higher rates and durations of hospitalizations prior to utilization of rehabilitation services, as well as higher decreases in number and duration of hospitalizations after utilizing their rights to rehabilitation services, as compared to patients who did not receive these services. Schizophrenia patients tend to show a decreasing trend in number and duration of hospitalizations over time. Nonetheless, the utilization of rehabilitation services offers larger gains in hospitalization prevention, primarily to schizophrenia patients who experience high rates and durations of hospitalizations at the beginning of illness. These findings provide additional support for the necessity of rehabilitation services, primarily for patients with severe onset.
Keywords: Effectiveness; Hospitalizations; Rehabilitation services; Retrospective cohort; Schizophrenia.