Developing a Protocol for Psychiatric Social Work Interventions

Psychiatric social work (PSW) is one of the most important areas of social work practice. So far, no protocol has been designed for these interventions in Iran. In this study, for the first time PSW protocol has been designed and presented.

This study was conducted in three phases: desk review, directed content analysis and group discussion for receiving experts' comments on the protocol. In the first phase, studies about PSW and psychosocial interventions in Iran and other countries were reviewed. In the second phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen experts, three patients and five family members and they were asked about needs and interventions that should be provided by the PSW. Data were coded and interventions were classified. In the third phase, the draft protocol was prepared based on the previous two phases and shared with experts. The final version of the protocol was prepared based on the comments of the experts.

A total of seventy eight articles were reviewed in the first phase of this study. The most important approaches and models used for PSW interventions were ecological approach, case management and teamwork. Data were categorized as assessment, motivational interventions, response to basic needs, psychoeducational interventions, counseling, family and group interventions, peer education and support, follow-up, community-based interventions, home-based and outreach services, long-distance services, destigmatization, occupational rehabilitation.
Also in the qualitative phase, psychosocial training, activation of patient and family support network, case work, family social work, relapse prevention, advocacy, occupational rehabilitation, after discharge follow-up and community work interventions were classified. The panel designed the protocol based on case management, and ecological, contingency management and teamwork approaches. This protocol describes multidimensional assessment, planning for social work interventions at the individual, family, group and community levels. Requirements for monitoring and evaluation, documentation and termination of intervention are also included in the protocol.

The protocol of PSW interventions based the ecological approach, suggested specific services at different levels of individual, family, group and community. The use of case management approach and ICM model in this protocol ensures a comprehensive approach to the treatment and empowerment of patients with psychiatric disorders from admission to discharge and especially post-discharge services. It is recommended that policy makers and social workers use this protocol in decision making and service providing related to mental disorder patients.