Supported Decision-Making Interventions in Mental Healthcare: A Systematic Review of Evidence on the Outcomes for People With Mental Ill Health

Background

Most people with mental ill health want to be involved in decision-making about their care, many mental health professionals now recognise the importance of this (at least in-principle) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities enshrines the ethical imperative to support people in making their own treatment decisions. Nonetheless, there are widespread reports of people with mental ill health being excluded from decision-making about their treatment in practice.

Objectives

We conducted a systematic review of quantitative, qualitative and mixed method research on interventions to improve opportunities for the involvement of mental healthcare service users in treatment planning. We sought to consolidate and understand the evidence on the outcomes of shared and supported decision-making for people with mental ill health.

Methods

Seven databases were searched and 5137 articles were screened. Articles were included if they reported on an intervention for adult service users, were published between 2008 and October 2023 and were in English. Evidence in the 140 included articles was synthesised according to the JBI guidance on Mixed Methods Systematic Reviews.

Results

There was evidence relating to the effects of these interventions on a range of outcomes for people with mental ill health, including on: suicidal crisis, symptoms, recovery, hospital admissions, treatment engagement and on the use of coercion by health professionals. There is favourable evidence for these types of interventions in improving some outcomes for people with mental ill health, more so than treatment-as-usual. For other outcomes, the evidence is preliminary but promising. Some areas for caution are also identified.

Conclusions

The review indicates that when the involvement of people with mental ill health in treatment planning is supported, there can be improved outcomes for their health and care. Areas for future research are highlighted.

Patient or Public Contribution

This systematic review has been guided at all stages by a researcher with experience of mental health service use, who does not wish to be identified at this point in time. The findings may inform organisations, researchers and practitioners on the benefits of implementing supported decision-making, for the greater involvement of people with mental ill health in their healthcare.