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Cost-effectiveness of assertive community treatment teams
S M Essock1, L K Frisman, N J Kontos
1Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA.
The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
|May 20, 1998
Summary
Assertive community treatment (ACT) helps individuals with serious mental disorders spend more time in the community than standard case management (SCM). ACT is also more cost-effective for those initially hospitalized.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Health Services Research
- Mental Health Services
Background:
- Serious mental disorders often lead to high service utilization.
- Effective community-based interventions are crucial for managing these conditions.
- Comparing different treatment modalities is essential for optimizing patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of assertive community treatment (ACT) versus standard case management (SCM).
- To evaluate the impact of ACT on community tenure for high service users with serious mental disorders.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial design across three study sites.
- Inclusion of high service users with serious mental disorders.
- 18-month follow-up period to assess outcomes.
Main Results:
- Clients receiving ACT demonstrated significantly more days in the community compared to those in SCM.
- Assertive community treatment (ACT) was found to be more cost-effective than standard case management (SCM) for individuals hospitalized at study entry.
- No additional costs were associated with the increased community days observed in the ACT group.
Conclusions:
- Assertive community treatment (ACT) is an effective strategy for increasing community living for individuals with serious mental disorders.
- ACT offers a cost-effective alternative to standard case management, particularly for high-risk patient populations.
- These findings support the broader implementation of ACT in mental health service delivery.