title: A strengths-based case management service for people with serious mental illness in Israel: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Case management services for people with serious mental illness are generally found to be effective, but controlled and randomized studies assessing such services are scarce. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of a new strengths-based case management (SBCM) service in Israel, using a randomized controlled approach. The sample consisted of 1276 individuals with serious mental illness, who consume psychiatric rehabilitation services (PRS) in the community, and were randomly assigned to receive or not to receive the SBCM service in addition to treatment-as-usual PRS. Quality of life, goal setting and attainment, unmet needs, self-efficacy, interpersonal relationships, symptom severity, and service utilization were assessed by clients at onset and after 20 months. Results show that SBCM participants improved in self-efficacy, unmet needs, and general quality of life, and set more goals than the control group. SBCM participants also consumed fewer services at follow-up. Results suggest that SBCM services are effective in helping individuals with serious mental illness set personal goals and use PRS in a better and more focused manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Mental Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel; Center for Community Mental Health, Research, Practice and Policy, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gelkopf
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Mental Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel; Center for Community Mental Health, Research, Practice and Policy, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: lapid.liron@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Liron
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lapid
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Nomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Werbeloff
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Mental Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Stephen Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.affiliation: Center for Community Mental Health, Research, Practice and Policy, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Adi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Telem
authors.affiliation: Center for Community Mental Health, Research, Practice and Policy, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel; The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, NH, USA.
authors.forename: Yaara
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zisman-Ilani
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Mental Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel; Center for Community Mental Health, Research, Practice and Policy, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019090:Case Management; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D000067250:Psychiatric Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Outcome assessment; Psychiatric rehabilitation services; Strengths-based model