Consumer case management and attitudes concerning family relations among persons with mental illness

Data from 91 clients participating in a clinical trial of consumer case management services were analyzed to determine if there is a relationship between client satisfaction with family relations and the amount of community treatment services, including case management. It was found that clients' greater face to face contact with case managers was related to less satisfaction with family relations after one year of service. The analysis provides some support for the hypothesis that case managers may be serving some of the functions that have traditionally been served by the families of mentally ill clients. Another conclusion that could be supported by this analysis is that the degree of intensity of case management services has an impact on family relations.