Last update:
06-Mar-2024

Mobile Mental Health Units (MMHUs) were introduced in rural and remote areas in Greece several decades ago, providing assessment and treatment for patients with common and severe mental disorders; however, the evidence on their effectiveness has not been studied systematically. The present review summarizes preliminary findings concerning the effectiveness of the MMHUs. A search was conducted in several databases, and 6 relevant studies were selected. There is some evidence that MMHUs may enable treatment engagement and medication adherence of patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Other findings indicate that interventions by MMHUs may reduce hospitalizations and length of hospital stay in patients with severe and chronic mental disorders. Concerning patients with common mental disorders, there is some evidence that treatment delivered by MMHUs may improve functioning and reduce disability. Other studies suggest that such treatment in patients with common mental disorders is cost-effective. Although there are indications of the effectiveness of the MMHUs in rural Greece, the existing evidence could only be considered as preliminary and inconclusive. Only 3 MMHUs are accounted for the reviewed studies; thus the generalizability of their findings is questionable. Additionally, studies lack a control group assigned to the so-called treatment as usual. Further research on various aspects of patients' outcome, with the participation of as many MMHUs as possible and the recruitment of larger samples of patients and control groups are needed if we are to properly study the effectiveness of the MMHUs.

Key words: Common mental disorders, Community psychiatry, Effectiveness, Mobile mental health units, Rural Greece, Severe mental illness.