Impact of assertive community treatment on homeless persons with co-occurring severe psychiatric and substance use disorders.
This study evaluated the impact of an integrated (mental health/substance abuse) assertive community treatment program on homeless persons with serious mental and substance use disorders. High rates of retention in treatment, housing stability, and community tenure were attained, and all but the most severe substance users appeared to gain these benefits. While the intervention appears to be an effective means of retaining in services and monitoring such difficult-to-treat and costly populations, it did not yield high rates of abstinence and social benefits in severe users.
Meisler
N
N
Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Psychiatry, Charleston 29425, USA.
Blankertz
L
L
Santos
A B
AB
McKay
C
C
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome