Skip to main content

Abstract

Objective:

This study examined whether employing mental health consumers as consumer-providers in assertive community treatment teams can enhance outcomes for clients with severe mental illness.

Methods:

In a prospective longitudinal study, presence of consumer-providers and outcomes of 530 clients with severe mental illness in 20 outpatient teams were assessed at baseline and at one-year and two-year follow-ups. Measures included the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS), the Camberwell Assessment of Need Short Assessment Schedule (CANSAS), the Working Alliance Scale, the number of hospital days, and the number of days of homelessness. Multilevel regression was used with the independent variables consumer-provider presence, time of measurement, and their interaction.

Results:

A positive association was found between consumer-provider presence and improvements in functioning on the HoNOS (p=.020), met needs in relation to personal recovery (p=.044), unmet needs in relation to personal recovery (p=.008), and number of homeless days (p<.001). A negative association was found for consumer-provider presence and the number of hospital days (p=.019).

Conclusions:

Consumer-providers are important participants in outpatient teams serving clients with severe mental illnesses, although integrating these providers as part of a team is a slow process. (Psychiatric Services 63:477–481, 2012; doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201000549)

Formats available

You can view the full content in the following formats:

Figures and Tables

Table 1 Demographic and illness characteristics of 530 clients in assertive community treatment, at baseline
Table 2 Associations between presence of a consumer-provider and time of measurement, by outcome

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Psychiatric Services
Go to Psychiatric Services
Psychiatric Services
Pages: 477 - 481
PubMed: 22388475

History

Published online: 1 May 2012
Published in print: May 2012

Authors

Details

Maaike D. van Vugt, M.Sc. [email protected]
Ms. van Vugt and Dr. Kroon are affiliated with the Department of Reintegration, Trimbos Institute, P.O. Box 725, 3500 AS Utrecht, the Netherlands (e-mail: [email protected]).
Hans Kroon, Ph.D. [email protected]
Ms. van Vugt and Dr. Kroon are affiliated with the Department of Reintegration, Trimbos Institute, P.O. Box 725, 3500 AS Utrecht, the Netherlands (e-mail: [email protected]).
Philippe A. E. G. Delespaul, Ph.D.
Dr. Delespaul is with the Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Cornelis L. Mulder, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Mulder is with the University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Export Citations

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

Format
Citation style
Style
Copy to clipboard

View Options

View options

PDF/EPUB

View PDF/EPUB

Full Text

View Full Text

Get Access

Login options

Already a subscriber? Access your subscription through your login credentials or your institution for full access to this article.

Personal login Institutional Login Open Athens login
Purchase Options

Purchase this article to access the full text.

PPV Articles - Psychiatric Services

PPV Articles - Psychiatric Services

Not a subscriber?

Subscribe Now / Learn More

PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5-TR® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.

Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Share article link

Share