Citation

Vidal S, Perroud N, Correa L, Huguelet P. Community Ment. Health J. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10597-019-00513-6

PMID

31807993

Abstract

The benefits of assertive community treatment (ACT) on patients with severe mental disorders are well established over short or medium term. However, studies that investigate long term outcomes are remarkably scarce. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate patient's long term clinical and psychosocial evolution after discharge from ACT. An assessment was conducted on 29 patients characterized by inpatient facilities heavy use and refusal of care, who were included in an ACT program 8.7 (SD = 0.7) years ago and discharged 6.3 (SD = 1.8) years ago.

RESULTS of the follow up showed decreased rates of hospitalizations and symptomatology, as well as sustained improvement in adherence to care, in quality of life and in social functioning. This data suggests that ACT programs can help refractory to care patients to gain clinical and psychosocial improvement and lay foundation for better long-term adherence to care.

RESULTS also suggest that ACT didn't imply a lifetime treatment.

Language: en

Keywords

ACT; Assertive community treatment; Discharge; Long term outcome; Severe mental illness