The study examined the 12-month effectiveness of continuous therapeutic assertive community treatment (ACT) as part of integrated care (IC) compared to standard care (SC) in a catchment area comparison design in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) treated with quetiapine IR.
Two catchment areas in Hamburg, Germany with similar population size and health care structures were assigned to offer 12-month ACT (\& IC; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf) or SC (Asklepios Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy) to 120 first-episode and negatively selected multiple-episode patients with SSD. Primary outcome was the time to Service Disengagement. Secondary outcomes comprised medication non-adherence, improvements of symptoms, functioning, quality of life, satisfaction with care from patients and relatives perspectives, and service use data.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
120
ACT was structured and implemented according to guidelines of the Assertive Community Treatment Association (ACTA). Team members were highly educated psychosis experts consisting of a consultant psychiatrist, a psychiatrist, two psychologists, and a nurse, all of which received training in cognitive behavioral (CBT), dynamic, and/or family psychotherapy. Study participants could use all treatment options within the integrated care program such as psychoeducation groups, social skills training, family groups, motivational addiction therapy, meta-cognitive training etc.
University Medical Center Hamburg
Hamburg, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Germany
Time to Service Disengagement
The primary outcome of the study was the time to service disengagement (SD). This primary aim was chosen because the assertive approach of ACT is to prevent service disengagement3 and because service disengagement is a major predictor for relapse and thereby poor long-term outcome.16,17 Service disengagement was present, if a patient repeatedly refuses further treatment despite several attempts of reengagement (phone calls of patient and family in both treatment arms and potentially home visits in the ACT group).
Time frame: 12 months
Improvements of symptoms, functioning, quality of life, and satisfaction with care from patients and relatives perspectives
Secondary outcomes comprised medication non-adherence, improvements of symptoms, functioning, quality of life, and satisfaction with care from patients and relatives perspectives.
Time frame: 12 months
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