title: Efficacy of a Mental Health Treatment Court with assertive community treatment.
abstract: This study examined the efficacy of a Mental Health Treatment Court (MHTC) with diversion to treatment supported by an assertive community treatment (ACT) model of case management. A total of 235 participants were randomly assigned to either MHTC or treatment as usual (TAU) and assessed over a 2 year period. It was hypothesized that participants in the MHTC would decrease their criminal activity and improve their psychosocial functioning relative to participants receiving TAU. While there were offenders for whom neither treatment was effective, a majority in both groups decreased jail days and improved psychosocial functioning, with MHTC participants demonstrating greater gains in most areas. The impact of implementing the MHTC on community practices, and the value of integrating criminal justice and mental health systems, is discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Santa Barbara 93106, USA. cosden@education.ucsb.edu
authors.forename: Merith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cosden
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellens
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schnell
authors.forename: Yasmeen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamini-Diouf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019090:Case Management / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003415:Crime / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011329:Prisoners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012917:Social Adjustment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014754:Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology