Citation

Langley J, Gehrs M, Wasylenki D, Dewa C, Rueda S, Rourke S. Can. J. Commun. Ment. Health 2009; 28(1): 151-164.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Wifrid Laurier University Press)

DOI

10.7870/cjcmh-2009-0012

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of two intensive community mental health programs on the suicidality of clients with serious mental illness. Eighty individuals with severe and persistent mental illness were enrolled in this randomized controlled study comparing two models of intensive community support: Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and Intensive Case Management (ICM). Suicidal ideation and behaviours were measured using the Modified Scale for Suicide Ideation. Study clients underwent comprehensive interviews at baseline and were reinterviewed 9 and 18 months later. The Dartmouth Assertive Community Treatment Scale (DACTS) instrument was used to gain more insight into the specific ACT and ICM program structures and characteristics that provide crisis support and suicide intervention. A chart review of 2 randomly chosen months of service looked at the on-call after-hours pager use of ACT program clients. The ACT intervention was effective in reducing suicidal ideation over 18 months. In addition, the prevalence of suicidal ideation was significantly lower at 18 months in ACT clients versus ICM clients. This is the first study to suggest that ACT may confer some additional benefit in terms of reduced suicidality in clients with severe and persistent mental illness.

Language: en