ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT AND CASE-MANAGEMENT FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA

This review examines the impact of assertive community treatment (ACT) and case management models on the use of inpatient hospitalization an d other community mental health; services, costs, and other clinical a nd social outcomes. ACT programs have been found to reduce hospitaliza tion and increase use of community mental health services at an equiva lent or reduced cost. Greater fidelity to the ACT model produced bette r outcomes. The impact of case management models is less consistent, b ut intensive case management programs also have been found to reduce h ospitalization. We discuss limitations in past research and recommend future directions.