title: A consumer-operated case management project.
abstract: The idea that patients and former patients might themselves be involved in service delivery has become increasingly popular in recent years. Once viewed as an expression of patient protest without clinical merit, self-help services are now, at least in some places, accepted and endorsed by mental health planning authorities. This month's guest columnists describe the philosophical underpinnings of a state-funded consumer-operated case management program in Oregon and discuss both the hope and some of the potential difficulties that such an experimental effort may generate.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services Division, Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Salem 97310.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Nikkel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003255:Consumer Organizations / Q000639:trends*; D004645:Empathy; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009922:Oregon; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000639:trends*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000639:trends*; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D013221:State Health Plans; D014481:United States