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Media type:
E-Article
Title:
Early tailored assertive community case management for hard‐to‐engage adolescents suffering from psychiatric disorders: an exploratory pilot study
Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Aim</jats:title><jats:p>The study aims to evaluate the effects of assertive community treatment (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">ACT</jats:styled-content>) on the mental health and overall functioning of adolescents suffering from severe psychiatric disorders and who refuse any traditional child psychiatric care. There are a few studies evaluating the effects of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">ACT</jats:styled-content> on a population of adolescents with psychiatric disorders. This short report highlights the impact of an <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">ACT</jats:styled-content> programme tailored to the needs of these patients, not only as an alternative to hospitalization, but also as a new form of intervention for patients that are difficult to engage.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>The effect of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">ACT</jats:styled-content> on 35 adolescents using the <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">H</jats:styled-content>ealth of the <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">N</jats:styled-content>ation <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">O</jats:styled-content>utcome <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">S</jats:styled-content>cales for <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">C</jats:styled-content>hildren and <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">A</jats:styled-content>dolescents (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HoNOSCA</jats:styled-content>) as a measuring tool in pre‐ and post‐intervention was evaluated.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>The results show that the intervention was associated with a significant improvement on the <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HoNOSCA</jats:styled-content> overall score, with the following items showing significant amelioration: hyperactivity/focus problems, non‐organic somatic symptoms, emotional symptoms, scholastic/language skills, peer relationships, family relationships and school attendance.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>ACT appears as a feasible intervention for hard‐to‐engage adolescents suffering from psychiatric disorders. The intervention seems to improve their mental health and functioning. This pilot study may serve as a basis to prepare a controlled study that will also take the costs of the intervention into account.</jats:p></jats:sec>