National Journal Notes Psychiatry Research
July 16, 2019
Research Weekly, a publication of the Treatment Advocacy Center in Arlington, Virginia, wrote about a recent study by Mark Munetz, M.D., The Margaret Clark Morgan Chair of Psychiatry, with NEOMED colleagues Christian Ritter, Ph.D., and Natalie Bonfine, Ph.D. The study looked at the efficacy of assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) with and without the intensive case management of assertive community treatment (ACT).
Jessica Walthall, a research and advocacy associate, concluded, “Ultimately, according to the researchers, the Summit County data provides evidence that AOT can be effective in reducing hospitalizations and hospitalization days, even when not paired with the intensive case management provided by an ACT team. Considering ACT is not widely available throughout the United States, the findings suggest localities may implement AOT programs and sufficiently serve a subset of individuals with serious mental illness, even without the presence of ACT services.”