Does case management influence the rate of violence and self-destructive behaviours in the severely mentally ill?

Case management is widely practised in the United States and Germany and has been adopted as the optimal model of community working in the United Kingdom. Randomized controlled trials suggest that case management is probably more effective than standard care at reducing rehospitalization and improving socialization and patients' satisfaction with services. Effects on symptomatology, quality of life and costs remain unclear. Surprisingly little research has focused on the effect of case management on reduction of violence and self-destructive behaviours. We examine the published studies in this area and suggest areas for further research.