Assertive outreach teams: their roles and functions.

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Services Research
• Community Psychiatry
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Assertive Outreach Teams (AOTs) are multi-professional configurations providing intensive community-based mental health services.
• Existing literature extensively examines AOT structures but lacks detail on specific intervention effectiveness.
• There is a recognized need to critically evaluate the interventions delivered by AOTs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate the research literature on Assertive Outreach Teams (AOTs).
• To contrast the established AOT service configuration with the under-defined nature of their interventions.
• To explore methods for measuring patient "life difficulties" to improve AOT service management and outcome assessment.

Main Methods:

• A critical literature review of Assertive Outreach Teams (AOTs).
• An audit of crisis management activities within an AOT.
• Identification and proposed measurement of twelve key "life difficulties" experienced by service users.

Main Results:

• The study identified twelve distinct areas of "life difficulties" relevant to AOT service users.
• A measurement approach for these life difficulties was developed and its utility for service management discussed.
• Significant gaps were found in the definition and testing of AOT interventions.

Conclusions:

• Assertive Outreach Teams (AOTs) require more clearly defined and empirically tested interventions.
• The proposed measurement of "life difficulties" offers potential for prioritizing referrals, managing workloads, and assessing outcomes.
• Current research methodologies are inadequate, and the separation of management and clinical practice in AOTs presents challenges.