[Assertive community treatment of psychoses]

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Mental Health Services Research
• Health Economics

Background:

• Long-term institutionalization is shifting away from preferred treatment for severe mental illness.
• Outpatient treatment models are increasingly developed for this population.
• Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a prominent model in this shift.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on Assertive Community Treatment (ACT).
• To compare ACT with traditional hospital admission through randomized trials and Cochrane reviews.
• To evaluate the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of ACT.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of the ACT model.
• Analysis of randomized trials comparing ACT with hospital admission.
• Examination of Cochrane reviews on ACT effectiveness.

Main Results:

• Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is clinically effective for managing severely ill individuals in the community.
• Targeted ACT programs for high users of inpatient care can significantly reduce hospital costs.
• ACT improves patient outcomes and satisfaction, as well as satisfaction for relatives.

Conclusions:

• Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a viable and effective alternative to long-term institutionalization.
• Implementing ACT can lead to substantial cost savings in hospital care.
• Political, professional, and consumer support is crucial for establishing ACT teams.