Abstract
Two randomized experiments compared theeffectiveness of the assertive community treatment (ACT)team against other treatments (outpatient therapy,drop-in center, and brokered case management) inimproving the social relationships of individuals whowere both homeless and suffered from severe andpersistent mental illness. In both studies clientsassigned to ACT teams reported having more professionalsin their social networks than clients assigned tothe other treatments. Clients did not report significantdifferences between treatment conditions on most of theother social relationship dimensions. Further attention to developing social skills andnetwork interventions within ACT teams arerecommended.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Bahr, H.M., & Caplow, T. (1973). Old men drunk and sober. New York: New York University Press.
Ball, F., & Havassey, B. (1984). A survey of the problems and needs of homeless consumers of acute psychiatric services. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 35, 917–921.
Barrera, M. (1980). A method for the assessment of social networks in community survey research. Connections, 3, 8–13.
Bebout, R.R., & Harris, M. (1993). The community connections social support network intervention model. Dartmouth, NH: Community Connections, Inc. and The New Hampshire-Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center.
Burns, B.J., & Santos, A.B. (1995). Assertive community treatment: an update of randomized trials. Psychiatric Services, 46, 669–675.
Calsyn, R.J., & Morse, G.A. (1991). Predicting chronic homelessness. Urban Affairs Quarterly, 27,155–163.
Calsyn, R.J., & Morse, G.A. (1992). Predicting psychiatric symptoms among homeless people. Community Mental Health Journal, 28, 385–395.
Cannady, D. (1982). Chronics and cleaning ladies. Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal, 5, 13–16.
Clark, A.W. (1968). The personality and social network adjustment scale. Human Relations, 21, 85–96.
Cohen, C.I., & Kochanowicz, N. (1989). Schizophrenia and social network patterns: A survey of black inner-city outpatients. Community Mental Health Journal, 25, 197–207.
Cohen, C.I., & Skolovsky, J. (1978). Schizophrenia and social networks: Ex-patients in the inner city. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 4, 546–560.
Cohen, S., & Wills, T.A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98, 310–357.
Cutler, D.L., Tatum, E., Shore, J. (1987). A comparison of schizophrenic patients in different community support treatment approaches. Community Mental Health Journal, 23, 103–113.
Dennis, D.L., Buckner, J.C., Lipton, F.R., & Levine, I.S., (1991). A decade of research and services for homeless mentally ill persons. American Psychologist, 46, 1129–1138.
Drake, R.E., Wallach, M.A., & Hoffman, J.S. (1989). Housing instability and homelessness among aftercare patients of an urban state hospital. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 40, 46–51.
Drake, R.E., Wallach, M.A., Teague, G.B., Freeman, D.H., Paskus, T.S., & Clark, T.A. (1991). Housing instability and homelessness among rural schizophrenic patients. American Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 330–336.
Durlak, J.A. (1979). Comparative effectiveness of paraprofessional and professional helpers. Psychological Bulletin, 86, 80–92.
Flaherty, J.A., Gaviria, F.M., & Pathak, D.S. (1983). The measurement of social support network inventory. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 24, 521–529.
Franklin, J., Solovitz, B., Mason, N., Clemons, J., & Miller, G. (1987). An evaluation of case management. American Journal of Public Health, 77, 674–678.
Goering, P., Durbin, J., Foster, R., Boyles, S., Babiak, T., & Lancee, B. (1992). Social networks of residents in supportive housing. Community Mental Health Journal, 28, 199–214.
Grigsby, C., Baumann, D., & Gregorich, S., & Roberts-Gray, C., (1990). Disaffiliation to entrenchment: A model for understanding homelessness. Journal of Social Issues, 46(4), 141–156.
LaGory, M., Ritchie, F.J., & Mullis, J. (1990). Depression among the homeless. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 31, 87–101.
McGrew, J.H., Bond, G.R. (1995). Critical ingredients of assertive community treatment: Judgements of the experts. Journal of Mental Health Administration, 22, 113–125.
Morse, G.A., & Calsyn, R.J. (1986). Mentally disturbed homeless people in St. Louis: Needy, willing, but underserved. International Journal of Mental Health, 14(4), 74–94.
Morse, G.A., Calsyn, R.J., Allen, G.A., Tempelhoff, B., & Smith, R. (1992). Experimental comparison of the effects of three treatment programs for homeless mentally ill people. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 43, 1005–1010.
Morse G.A., Calsyn, R., Klinkenberg, W.D., Trusty, M., Gerber, F., Smith, R., Tempelhoff, B., & Ahmad, L. (1997). An experimental comparison of three types of case management for homeless mentally ill clients. Psychiatric Services, 48, 491–503.
Olfson, M. (1990). Assertive community treatment: an evaluation of the experimental evidence. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 41, 634–641.
Solomon, P. (1992). The efficacy of case management services for severely mentally disabled clients. Community Mental Health Journal, 28, 163–180.
Stein, L.J., & Test, M.A. (Eds.) (1985). The training in community living model: A decade of experience. New Directions for Mental Health Services, No. 26.
Stroul, B.A. Models of community support services. Boston: Boston University (Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation), August, 1986.
Thompson, K.S., Griffith, E.E.H., & Leaf, P.J. (1990). A historical review of the Madison model of community care. Hospital & Community Psychology, 41, 625–634.
Walsh, J. (1996). Social network changes over 20 months for clients receiving assertive case management services. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 19(3), 81–85.
Weinman, B., & Kleiner, R. (1986). The impact of community living and community member intervention on the adjustment of the chronic psychotic patient. In L. Stein and M.A. Test (Eds.), Alternatives to Mental Hospital Treatment(pp. 139–159). New York: Plenum Press.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Calsyn, R.J., Morse, G.A., Klinkenberg, W.D. et al. The Impact of Assertive Community Treatment on the Social Relationships of People Who Are Homeless and Mentally Ill. Community Ment Health J 34, 579–593 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018711001348
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018711001348