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. 2024 Feb 9;18(1):6.
doi: 10.1186/s13033-024-00628-8.

Evaluation of a flexible assertive community treatment (FACT) program for patients with severe mental illness: an observational study in Salzburg, Austria

Matthias Gerhard Tholen  1 , Anna Martin  2 , Theresa Stemeseder  2 , Thomas Vikoler  3 , Barbara Wageneder  2 , Wolfgang Aichhorn  2 , Andreas Kurt Kaiser  2
Affiliations

Evaluation of a flexible assertive community treatment (FACT) program for patients with severe mental illness: an observational study in Salzburg, Austria

Matthias Gerhard Tholen et al. Int J Ment Health Syst. .

Abstract

Background: Inpatient treatment of severe mentally ill patients binds substantial resources and creates the dilemma of "revolving-door hospitalizations". Evidence suggests that these patients benefit more from an assertive outreach community psychiatric treatment. This descriptive study evaluates the implementation of a new treatment program for severe mentally ill patients provided by a flexible assertive community treatment (FACT) team.

Methods: An uncontrolled design with routine data was used to measure the total length of stays, readmission rates and number of contacts one year prior to the implementation of the FACT program and the following first three years of treatment.

Results: A continuous decrease of hospitalization among patients with severe mental illness was observed with the implementation of the FACT program with declines in total length of stays and readmission rates and accompanied with a decreasing number of contacts per year.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that this program may create effects in stabilizing patients with severe mental illness and may be highly relevant also for other patient groups.

Keywords: Assertive community treatment; Flexible assertive community treatment; Mental health care; Severe mental illness.

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Conflict of interest statement

Not applicable.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A CONSORT diagram shows the documentation of the absolute numbers of participants in the evaluation of the FACT program
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Density plots show the distribution of length of stays one year prior to the implementation (pretreatment) and the first three years after the implementation of the FACT program (n = 66)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Kaplan Meier plot shows the time to first readmission during three year observation period
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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