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Homelike environment more effective in treatment of patients with emotional distress
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A recent study suggests patients with emotional distress may be better served in a homelike environment rather than a traditional emergency department.
“Hospital emergency departments are not set up for people with emotional problems. Most people with emotional distress come from a chaotic environment and need a safe or calm space to receive proper attention and treatment,” study researcher Mona Shattell, PhD, of DePaul’s College of Science and Health, said in a press release.
Researchers interviewed 18 participants who were either emotionally distressed or worked with patients who experienced emotional distress. Patients’ self-reported diagnoses ranged from depression to Asperger’s syndrome, according to the release. Study participants spent time at “The Living Room,” an outpatient, voluntary program for patients with emotional distress that is held in a space that is furnished like a typical living room.
According to study findings, time spent in The Living Room helped participants develop coping mechanisms and establish a sense of calm, allowed them to talk through problems and engage in problem-solving skills particular to their illnesses. Study participants, called “guests” versus “patients,” reportedly felt welcomed as “a fellow human being, not like a patient” and said The Living Room was a judgment-free space.
Participants in emergency department settings reported feelings of insecurity, loneliness, intimidation, fear, and discomfort. They felt unsupported by emergency department staff.
“Patients who were treated in The Living Room were able to successfully manage their emotional crises, which was less expensive, emotionally intensive or as intrusive as being treated in an emergency room,” study researcher Barbara Harris, PhD, of the DePaul’s school of nursing, said in the release.
“This doesn’t mean that medical treatment is not needed, but sometimes, the emotional distress of crisis that results from the intersection of illness and life situations can be addressed without drastic medical intervention or hospitalization.”