TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of a flexible assertive community treatment (FACT) program for patients with severe mental illness: an observational study in Salzburg, Austria
AU - Tholen, Matthias Gerhard
AU - Martin, Anna
AU - Stemeseder, Theresa
AU - Vikoler, Thomas
AU - Wageneder, Barbara
AU - Aichhorn, Wolfgang
AU - Kaiser, Andreas Kurt
N1 - alle ausser Vikoler: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
PY - 2024/2/9
Y1 - 2024/2/9
N2 - BACKGROUND: Inpatient treatment of severe mentally ill patients binds substantial resources and creates the dilemma of "revolving-door hospitalizations". Evidence suggests that these patients benefit more from an assertive outreach community psychiatric treatment. This descriptive study evaluates the implementation of a new treatment program for severe mentally ill patients provided by a flexible assertive community treatment (FACT) team.METHODS: An uncontrolled design with routine data was used to measure the total length of stays, readmission rates and number of contacts one year prior to the implementation of the FACT program and the following first three years of treatment.RESULTS: A continuous decrease of hospitalization among patients with severe mental illness was observed with the implementation of the FACT program with declines in total length of stays and readmission rates and accompanied with a decreasing number of contacts per year.CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that this program may create effects in stabilizing patients with severe mental illness and may be highly relevant also for other patient groups.
AB - BACKGROUND: Inpatient treatment of severe mentally ill patients binds substantial resources and creates the dilemma of "revolving-door hospitalizations". Evidence suggests that these patients benefit more from an assertive outreach community psychiatric treatment. This descriptive study evaluates the implementation of a new treatment program for severe mentally ill patients provided by a flexible assertive community treatment (FACT) team.METHODS: An uncontrolled design with routine data was used to measure the total length of stays, readmission rates and number of contacts one year prior to the implementation of the FACT program and the following first three years of treatment.RESULTS: A continuous decrease of hospitalization among patients with severe mental illness was observed with the implementation of the FACT program with declines in total length of stays and readmission rates and accompanied with a decreasing number of contacts per year.CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that this program may create effects in stabilizing patients with severe mental illness and may be highly relevant also for other patient groups.
KW - Assertive community treatment
KW - Flexible assertive community treatment
KW - Mental health care
KW - Severe mental illness
U2 - 10.1186/s13033-024-00628-8
DO - 10.1186/s13033-024-00628-8
M3 - Original Article (Journal)
C2 - 38336693
SN - 1752-4458
VL - 18
SP - 6
JO - International journal of mental health systems
JF - International journal of mental health systems
IS - 1
M1 - 6
ER -