scholarly journals 520 - Benefits of Assertive Community Treatment for Persons with Severe Mental Illness and Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 69-69
Author(s):  
Monica Taylor-Desir
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Assertive Community Treatment ◽  
Community Treatment ◽  
Case Vignette ◽  
Treatment Team ◽  
Assertive Community Treatment Team

Breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide, is responsible for one in six cancer deaths (Sung, H. et al., 2021). Women with schizophrenia have an associated increased incidence of breast cancer compared to the general population (Grassi & Riba, 2020). Patients with severe mental illness are noted to have disparities in accessing and initiating cancer treatment especially among those who are older (Iglay et al., 2017). A case vignette will be presented to illustrate the care and interventions provided by an American Assertive Community Treatment team which fostered supportive treatment engagement and improved the quality of life for a patient that chose to forgo recommended cancer treatment. This presentation will highlight the essential nature of the Assertive Community Treatment team in supporting decisional capacity, facilitation of a patient’s grief and acknowledgement of one’s own mortality as well as incorporation of medical and palliative care. The attendee will appreciate the importance of the multidisciplinary approach for persons with chronic mental illness and co-morbid cancer diagnoses.

scholarly journals Running an assertive community treatment team

1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 348-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Burns ◽  
Louise Guest
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Assertive Community Treatment ◽  
Coping Skills ◽  
Community Treatment ◽  
Treatment Team ◽  
Assertive Community Treatment Team ◽  
Mental Hospitals ◽  
The 1960S

In the 1960s, most people with severe mental illness were treated in large mental hospitals, receiving all their care under one roof, ensuring its continuity and accountability. Deinstitutionalisation resulted in discharge into the community, where care was fragmented between many agencies, making continuity and accountability very difficult. Countless individual programs were developed with few links between them. Not surprisingly, deinstitutionalised patients, in an unfamiliar environment and with poor coping skills to navigate services, did not receive the care they needed.

Stigma and discrimination in individuals with severe and persistent mental illness in an assertive community treatment team: Perceptions of families and healthcare professionals

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 570-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire L O’Reilly ◽  
Diane Paul ◽  
Rebecca McCahon ◽  
Sumitra Shankar ◽  
Alan Rosen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Assertive Community Treatment ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Clinical Staff ◽  
Community Treatment ◽  
Treatment Team ◽  
Assertive Community Treatment Team ◽  
Stigma And Discrimination ◽  
Persistent Mental Illness

Aim: To explore family member and staff perceptions of clients’ experiences of stigma and discrimination, in those living with severe and persistent mental illness in an Assertive Community Treatment Team. Method: This qualitative study used the Discrimination and Stigma Scale to conduct structured face-to-face and telephone interviews of family members and healthcare professionals, working with the Assertive Outreach Team (AOT) (an Assertive Community Treatment Team) of a northern inner suburban catchment of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Results: Forty-one people participated in the study (23 AOT clinical staff members and 18 family members). Family and clinical staff commonly reported stigma and discrimination amongst their relatives and clients, respectively. Four overarching themes emerged from the data: (1) appearance and behaviour, (2) avoidance and being shunned, (3) key areas of life affected by discrimination and (4) impacts of discrimination and skills to cope with discrimination. Conclusion: Reports of stigma and discrimination were common, yet varied between groups with clinical staff commonly witnessing experiences and impacts of discrimination in everyday life, with families’ reports being substantially less. Due to the strong advocacy and support provided by the AOT model, clinical staff often buffered experiences of stigma and discrimination. Further research is needed to explore effective interventions to reduce experiences of discrimination in this population group.

Cost-effectiveness of assertive community treatment for homeless persons with severe mental illness

1999 ◽  
Vol 174 (4) ◽  
pp. 346-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony F. Lehman ◽  
Lisa Dixon ◽  
Jeffrey S. Hoch ◽  
Bruce Deforge ◽  
Eimer Kernan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Usual Care ◽  
Assertive Community Treatment ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Homeless Persons ◽  
Community Treatment ◽  
Stable Housing

BackgroundHomelessness is a major public health problem among persons with severe mental illness (SMI). Cost-effective programmes that address this problem are needed.AimsTo evaluate the cost-effectiveness of an assertive community treatment (ACT) programme for these persons in Baltimore, Maryland.MethodsA total of 152 homeless persons with SMI were randomly allocated to either ACT or usual services. Direct treatment costs and effectiveness, represented by days of stable housing, were assessed.ResultsCompared with usual care, ACT costs were significantly lower for mental health in-patient days and mental health emergency room care, and significantly higher for mental health out-patient visits and treatment for substance misuse. ACT patients spent 31% more days in stable housing than those receiving usual care. ACT and usual services incurred $242 and $415 respectively in direct treatment costs per day of stable housing, an efficiency ratio of 0. 58 in favour of ACT. Patterns of care and costs varied according to race.ConclusionACT provides a cost-effective approach to reducing homelessness among persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses.

scholarly journals Clozapine initiation in the community

2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 339-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aileen O'Brien ◽  
Mike Firn
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Assertive Community Treatment ◽  
Community Treatment ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Treatment Team ◽  
Serious Adverse Events ◽  
Assertive Community Treatment Team ◽  
To Come ◽  
At Home

Aims and MethodThe study aims to describe the experience of an assertive community treatment team when commencing clozapine at home rather than in hospital, following a locally-devised policy. Any failed attempts and problems experienced are described.ResultsThere have been no serious adverse events with 13 patients who have been started on clozapine at home.Clinical ImplicationsFor an assertive community treatment team, home-initiation of clozapine is a practical option, particularly when patients refuse to come in to hospital.

scholarly journals Assertive community treatment for elderly people with severe mental illness

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolanda Stobbe ◽  
Niels CL Mulder ◽  
Bert-Jan Roosenschoon ◽  
Marja Depla ◽  
Hans Kroon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Assertive Community Treatment ◽  
Community Treatment
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