Study Description:

This comparative study evaluated the demographic characteristics, service utilization, and clinical outcomes of individuals with Dementia and Severe Mental Illness (SMI) enrolled in the RYTHM Community Mental Health Program in Kerala, India. Data from 34 participants (17 Dementia and 17 SMI) were analyzed to compare illness duration, home and outpatient service use, and overall outcomes. While service utilization was comparable between groups, participants with Dementia had significantly poorer clinical outcomes despite receiving similar community-based care, highlighting the importance of early detection and dementia-specific community interventions