Consumers’ Perceptions of Transitions from Assertive Community Treatment to Less Intensive Services

• Published in: Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services Vol. 51; no. 8; pp. 39 - 45
• Main Authors: Cuddeback, Gary S., Shattell, Mona M., Bartlett, Robin, Yoselle, Julie, Brown, Donna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thorofare, NJ Slack 01.08.2013; SLACK INCORPORATED
• Subjects: Adult; Attitude to Health; Biological and medical sciences; Case Management; Communication; Community health care; Community Mental Health Services - methods; Community treatment. Ambulatory treatment. Home care; Female; Humans; Interviews as Topic - methods; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Disorders - psychology; Mental Disorders - therapy; Mental health care; Ohio; Patient Satisfaction; Perceptions; Professional-Patient Relations; Psychiatric-mental health nursing; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Treatments; Urban Population; United States; North America; America; Ohio; United States > US; Social environment; Human; Managed care; Subjective experience; Mental health; Assertive community treatment; Treatment; Consumer; Transition; Mental disorder; Community treatment; Qualitative analysis; Public health
• ISSN: 0279-3695; 1938-2413
• DOI: 10.3928/02793695-20130603-05

When first conceptualized, it was thought that individuals with severe mental illness who needed assertive community treatment (ACT) would need ACT for life. Today, ACT-for-life is contrary to recovery-based principles, and teams routinely transition consumers to less intensive services. However, there is little qualitative information about the experiences of consumers who transition from ACT. To address this gap in our knowledge, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 consumers who had transitioned from ACT to case management services. Consumers expressed feelings of loss and frustration about transitioning from ACT to case management services. Findings underscore the importance of facilitating open dialogue about transitions with consumers, managing consumers’ expectations of post-transition services, and facilitating consumer independence prior to transition. ACT teams should be deliberate about preparing consumers for transitions from ACT. More research is needed about facilitating successful transitions from ACT. [When first conceptualized, it was thought that individuals with severe mental illness who needed assertive community treatment (ACT) would need ACT for life. Today, ACT-for-life is contrary to recovery-based principles, and teams routinely transition consumers to less intensive services. However, there is little qualitative information about the experiences of consumers who transition from ACT. To address this gap in our knowledge, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 consumers who had transitioned from ACT to case management services. Consumers expressed feelings of loss and frustration about transitioning from ACT to case management services. Findings underscore the importance of facilitating open dialogue about transitions with consumers, managing consumers’ expectations of post-transition services, and facilitating consumer independence prior to transition. ACT teams should be deliberate about preparing consumers for transitions from ACT. More research is needed about facilitating successful transitions from ACT. [ Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 51 (8), 39–45.]