Evaluating professionally operated and self‐help programs for the seriously mentally ill

Reviewed a study by Bond et al. (1990) that evaluates assertive community treatment (ACT), an intensive community-based program for the seriously mentally ill. Such programs have been developed at a rapid pace in recent years but lack extensive research support. This randomized study supports the effectiveness of ACT and is a significant contribution to the mixed findings from the existing literature. However, its methodological flaws include (a) differential dropout from the ACT and comparison groups, (b) a relatively short follow-up period (12 months), and (c) limitations of the ACT intervention which prevents rehospitalization but lacks impact in other domains (e.g., social relationships, housing stability, employment). Self-help programs, poorly represented by the comparison group in this research, may offer the sorts of societal niches required by the mentally ill. Further research, giving such programs a "fair shake" against professionally controlled programs, is sorely needed

BATES · Citation · Library science · Sociology · Computer Science · Engineering · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology · Schizophrenia research and treatment

• Assertive community treatment

  Open Access•Gary R Bond, Mairie Mairie et al.•American Journal of Community…•1991

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• Psychology and self-help groups

  Marion Jacobs, Marion K Jacobs et al.•American Psychologist•1989

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• Effectiveness of professional and paraprofessional helpers

  Michael T Nietzel, Stuart G Fisher•Psychological Bulletin•1981

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• Evaluating comparative studies of paraprofessional and professional helpers

  Joseph A Durlak•Psychological Bulletin•1981

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• Assertive community treatment for frequent users of psychiatric hospitals in a large city

  Open Access•Gary R Bond, Thomas F Witheridge et al.•American Journal of Community…•1990

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• An evaluation of case management

  Jack Franklin, J L Franklin et al.•American Journal of Public Health•1987

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• Comparative effectiveness of paraprofessional and professional helpers

  Joseph A Durlak•Psychological Bulletin•1979

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• Does professional training make a therapist more effective

  Jessica Schiff Berman, Jeffrey S Berman et al.•Psychological Bulletin•1985

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