Open Dialogue reduces psychiatric admissions threefold in trial

High psychiatric hospital admissions among people in crisis were examined in a University College London trial of 500 patients who approached mental health services.

Open Dialogue groups the patient with family or friends and two practitioners in regular "network meetings", keeps the same clinicians, and focuses on the patient's priorities; the trial took place in five NHS trust areas.

The trial found Open Dialogue patients were three times less likely to be admitted to psychiatric hospital than those getting usual care, and when admitted their inpatient stays averaged half as long; patients also reported higher recovery and quality of life.

Clinicians said longer, free‑flowing network conversations can reach a firmer and deeper understanding and help generate solutions from the person and their family.

The approach did not reduce relapse rates and critics said benefits might be due to extra resources rather than distinctive elements of Open Dialogue, so further research is required.