Processes of disengagement and engagement in assertive outreach patients: qualitative study.
BACKGROUND
Assertive outreach has been established to care for'difficult to engage' patients, yet little is known about how patients experience their disengagement with mainstream services and later engagement with outreach teams.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the views of disengagement and engagement held by patients of assertive outreach teams.


METHODS
In-depth interviews were conducted with 40 purposefully selected patients and analysed using components of both thematic analysis and grounded theory.


RESULTS
Patients reported a desire to be independent, a poor therapeutic relationship and a loss of control due to medication effects as most important for disengagement. Time and commitment of staff, social support and engagement without a focus on medication, and a partnership model of the therapeutic relationship were most relevant for engagement.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings underline the importance of a comprehensive care model, committed staff with sufficient time, and a focus on relationship issues in dealing with 'difficult to engage' patients.
Priebe
Stefan
S
Unit for Social and Community Psychiatry, Queen Mary, University of London, UK. S.Priebe@qmul.ac.uk
Watts
Jay
J
Chase
Mike
M
Matanov
Aleksandra
A
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012944:Social Support; D016312:Treatment Refusal
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents