Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Community Mental Health Journal 8/2016

Open Access 01-11-2016 | Original Paper

Outcomes of FLEXIBLE Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) Implementation: A Prospective Real Life Study

Authors: M. Annet Nugter, Fabiana Engelsbel, Michiel Bähler, René Keet, Remmers van Veldhuizen

Published in: Community Mental Health Journal | Issue 8/2016

Login to get access

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate social and clinical outcomes and use of care during and after implementation of FLEXIBLE Assertive Community Treatment (ACT). Three teams and 372 patients were involved. Model fidelity, clinical and social assessments were performed at baseline and after 1 and 2 years. Use of care was registered continuously. Model fidelity was good at the end of the study. Data showed much variation between patients in number and duration of ACT periods. Statistically significant improvements were found in compliance, unmet needs and quality of life. Improvement of quality of life and functioning was related to duration of ACT. The percentage of remissions increased with 9 %. The number of admissions, admission days and face to face contacts differed between ACT and non-ACT patients, but generally decreased. Findings suggest that implementation of FACT results in a more flexible adaptation of care to the needs of the patients.
Literature
go back to reference Andreasen, N. C., Carpenter, W. T., Kane, J. M., Lasser, R. A., Marder, S. R., & Weinberger, D. R. (2005). Remission in Schizophrenia: Proposed criteria and rationale for consensus. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162, 441–449.CrossRefPubMed Andreasen, N. C., Carpenter, W. T., Kane, J. M., Lasser, R. A., Marder, S. R., & Weinberger, D. R. (2005). Remission in Schizophrenia: Proposed criteria and rationale for consensus. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162, 441–449.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Bak, M., van Os, J., Delespaul, P., de Bie, A., á Campo, J., Poddighe, G., & Drukker, M. (2007). An observational, “real life” trial of the introduction of assertive community treatment in a geographically defined area using clinical rather than service use outcome criteria. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 42, 125–130. Bak, M., van Os, J., Delespaul, P., de Bie, A., á Campo, J., Poddighe, G., & Drukker, M. (2007). An observational, “real life” trial of the introduction of assertive community treatment in a geographically defined area using clinical rather than service use outcome criteria. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 42, 125–130.
go back to reference Björkman, T., & Svensson, B. (2005). Quality of life in people with severe mental illness. Reliability and validity of the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA). Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 59, 302–306.CrossRefPubMed Björkman, T., & Svensson, B. (2005). Quality of life in people with severe mental illness. Reliability and validity of the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA). Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 59, 302–306.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Burns, T., Fioritti, A., Holloway, F., Malm, U., & Rössler, W. (2001). Case management and assertive community treatment in europe. Psychiatric Services, 52, 631–636.CrossRefPubMed Burns, T., Fioritti, A., Holloway, F., Malm, U., & Rössler, W. (2001). Case management and assertive community treatment in europe. Psychiatric Services, 52, 631–636.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Dekker, J., Kluiter, H., Kroon, H., & Polstra, L. (2000). Community care arrangements in the Netherlands. European Journal of Psychiatry, 14, 143–152. Dekker, J., Kluiter, H., Kroon, H., & Polstra, L. (2000). Community care arrangements in the Netherlands. European Journal of Psychiatry, 14, 143–152.
go back to reference Downey, R. G., & King, C. V. (1998). Missing data in Likert rating: A comparison of replacement methods. The Journal of General Psychology, 125, 175–191.CrossRefPubMed Downey, R. G., & King, C. V. (1998). Missing data in Likert rating: A comparison of replacement methods. The Journal of General Psychology, 125, 175–191.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Drukker, M., Maarschalkerweerd, M., Bak, M., Driessen, G., A Campo, J., De Bie, A., et al. (2008). A real-life observational study of the effectiveness of FACT in a Dutch mental health region. BMC Psychiatry, 8, 8–93.CrossRef Drukker, M., Maarschalkerweerd, M., Bak, M., Driessen, G., A Campo, J., De Bie, A., et al. (2008). A real-life observational study of the effectiveness of FACT in a Dutch mental health region. BMC Psychiatry, 8, 8–93.CrossRef
go back to reference Drukker, M., Van Os, J., Sytema, S., Driessen, G., Visser, E., & Delespaul, Ph. (2011). Function assertive community treatment (FACT) and psychiatric service use in patients diagnosed with severe mental illness. (2011). Epidemiology and Psychiatric Science, 20, 273–278.CrossRef Drukker, M., Van Os, J., Sytema, S., Driessen, G., Visser, E., & Delespaul, Ph. (2011). Function assertive community treatment (FACT) and psychiatric service use in patients diagnosed with severe mental illness. (2011). Epidemiology and Psychiatric Science, 20, 273–278.CrossRef
go back to reference Drukker, M., Visser, E., Sytema, S., & Van Os, J. (2013). Flexible assertive community treatment: Severity of symptoms and psychiatric health service use; a real life observational study. Clinical Practice & Epidemiology in Mental Health, 9, 202–209.CrossRef Drukker, M., Visser, E., Sytema, S., & Van Os, J. (2013). Flexible assertive community treatment: Severity of symptoms and psychiatric health service use; a real life observational study. Clinical Practice & Epidemiology in Mental Health, 9, 202–209.CrossRef
go back to reference Firn, M., Hindhaugh, K., Hubbeling, D., Davies, G., Jones, B., & White, S. J. (2012). A dismantling study of assertive outreach services: Comparing activity and outcomes following replacement with the FACT model. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 48, 997–1003.CrossRefPubMed Firn, M., Hindhaugh, K., Hubbeling, D., Davies, G., Jones, B., & White, S. J. (2012). A dismantling study of assertive outreach services: Comparing activity and outcomes following replacement with the FACT model. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 48, 997–1003.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Killaspy, H., Bebbington, P., Blizard, R., Johnson, S., Nolan, F., Pilling, S., & King, M. (2006). The REACT study: Randomised evaluation of assertive community treatment in north London. British Medical Journal, 332, 815–820.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Killaspy, H., Bebbington, P., Blizard, R., Johnson, S., Nolan, F., Pilling, S., & King, M. (2006). The REACT study: Randomised evaluation of assertive community treatment in north London. British Medical Journal, 332, 815–820.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Killaspy, H., Kingett, S., Bebbington, P., Blizard, R., Johnson, S., Nolan, F., et al. (2009). Randomised evaluation of assertive community treatment: 3-Year outcomes. British Journal of Psychiatry, 195, 81–82.CrossRefPubMed Killaspy, H., Kingett, S., Bebbington, P., Blizard, R., Johnson, S., Nolan, F., et al. (2009). Randomised evaluation of assertive community treatment: 3-Year outcomes. British Journal of Psychiatry, 195, 81–82.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Kortrijk, H. E., Mulder, C. L., Drukker, M., Wiersma, D., & Duivenvoorden, H. J. (2012). Duration of assertive community treatment and the interpretation of routine outcome data. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 46(3), 240–248.CrossRefPubMed Kortrijk, H. E., Mulder, C. L., Drukker, M., Wiersma, D., & Duivenvoorden, H. J. (2012). Duration of assertive community treatment and the interpretation of routine outcome data. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 46(3), 240–248.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Marshall, M., & Lockwood, A. (2010). Assertive community treatment for people with severe mental disorders. Cochrane database of systematic review. New York: Wiley. Marshall, M., & Lockwood, A. (2010). Assertive community treatment for people with severe mental disorders. Cochrane database of systematic review. New York: Wiley.
go back to reference Meyer, P. S., & Morrissey, J. P. (2007). A comparison of assertive community treatment and intensive case management for patients in rural areas. Psychiatric Services, 58, 127–212.CrossRef Meyer, P. S., & Morrissey, J. P. (2007). A comparison of assertive community treatment and intensive case management for patients in rural areas. Psychiatric Services, 58, 127–212.CrossRef
go back to reference Mulder, C. L., Staring, A. B. P., Loos, J., Buwalda, V. J. A., Kuijpers, D., Sytema, S., & Wiersma, A. I. (2004). De Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (honos) als instrument voor ‘routine outcome assessment’. Tijdschrift voor Psychiatrie, 46, 273–284. Mulder, C. L., Staring, A. B. P., Loos, J., Buwalda, V. J. A., Kuijpers, D., Sytema, S., & Wiersma, A. I. (2004). De Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (honos) als instrument voor ‘routine outcome assessment’. Tijdschrift voor Psychiatrie, 46, 273–284.
go back to reference Phelan, M., Slade, M., Thornicroft, G., Dunn, G., Holloway, F., Wykes, T., et al. (1995). The Camberwell assessment of need: The validity and reliability of an instrument to assess the needs of people with severe mental illness. British Journal of Psychiatry, 167, 589–595.CrossRefPubMed Phelan, M., Slade, M., Thornicroft, G., Dunn, G., Holloway, F., Wykes, T., et al. (1995). The Camberwell assessment of need: The validity and reliability of an instrument to assess the needs of people with severe mental illness. British Journal of Psychiatry, 167, 589–595.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Priebe, S., Huxley, P., Knight, S., & Evans, S. (1999). Application and results of the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA). International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 45, 7–12.CrossRefPubMed Priebe, S., Huxley, P., Knight, S., & Evans, S. (1999). Application and results of the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA). International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 45, 7–12.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Stein, L. I., & Test, M. A. (1980). Alternatives to mental hospital treatment Part I: Conceptual model treatment program and clinical evaluation. Archives of General Psychiatry, 37, 392–397.CrossRefPubMed Stein, L. I., & Test, M. A. (1980). Alternatives to mental hospital treatment Part I: Conceptual model treatment program and clinical evaluation. Archives of General Psychiatry, 37, 392–397.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Sytema, S., Wunderink, L., Bloemers, W., Roorda, L., & Wiersma, D. (2007). Assertive community treatment in the Netherlands: A randomized controlled trial. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 116, 105–112.CrossRefPubMed Sytema, S., Wunderink, L., Bloemers, W., Roorda, L., & Wiersma, D. (2007). Assertive community treatment in the Netherlands: A randomized controlled trial. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 116, 105–112.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Van Os, J., Burns, T., Cavallaro, R., Leucht, S., Peuskens, J., Helldin, L., et al. (2006). Standardized remission criteria in schizophrenia. Acta Psychiatr Scandinavica, 113, 91–95.CrossRef Van Os, J., Burns, T., Cavallaro, R., Leucht, S., Peuskens, J., Helldin, L., et al. (2006). Standardized remission criteria in schizophrenia. Acta Psychiatr Scandinavica, 113, 91–95.CrossRef
go back to reference Van Veldhuizen, J. R. (2007). FACT: A Dutch version of ACT. Community Mental Health Journal, 43, 421–433.CrossRefPubMed Van Veldhuizen, J. R. (2007). FACT: A Dutch version of ACT. Community Mental Health Journal, 43, 421–433.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Van Veldhuizen, J. R., Bähler, M., Polhuis, D., & van Os, J. (2008). Handboek FACT. De Tijdstroom Utrecht. Van Veldhuizen, J. R., Bähler, M., Polhuis, D., & van Os, J. (2008). Handboek FACT. De Tijdstroom Utrecht.
go back to reference Van Vugt, M. D., Kroon, H., Delespaul, P. A. E. G., Dreef, F. G., Nugter, A., Roosenschoon, B. J., et al. (2011). Assertive community treatment in the Netherlands: Outcome and model fidelity. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 56, 145–160. Van Vugt, M. D., Kroon, H., Delespaul, P. A. E. G., Dreef, F. G., Nugter, A., Roosenschoon, B. J., et al. (2011). Assertive community treatment in the Netherlands: Outcome and model fidelity. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 56, 145–160.
go back to reference Wing, J. K., Beevor, A. S., Curtis, R. H., Park, S. B. G., Haddem, S., & Burns, A. (1998). Health of the nation outcome scales: Research and development. British Journal of Psychiatry, 172, 11–18.CrossRefPubMed Wing, J. K., Beevor, A. S., Curtis, R. H., Park, S. B. G., Haddem, S., & Burns, A. (1998). Health of the nation outcome scales: Research and development. British Journal of Psychiatry, 172, 11–18.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Outcomes of FLEXIBLE Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) Implementation: A Prospective Real Life Study
Authors
M. Annet Nugter
Fabiana Engelsbel
Michiel Bähler
René Keet
Remmers van Veldhuizen
Publication date
01-11-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Community Mental Health Journal / Issue 8/2016
Print ISSN: 0010-3853
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2789
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-015-9831-2

Other articles of this Issue 8/2016

Community Mental Health Journal 8/2016 Go to the issue