Outcomes From Consumer-Operated and Community Mental Health Services: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• DOI: 10.1176/ps.62.8.pss6208_0915
• Publication Date: 2014-12-17T23:04:46Z
• Authors: Steven P. Segal; Carol J. Silverman; Tanya L. Temkin
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Comparative Effectiveness Research; Clinical Trials and Supportive Activities; Consumer Organizations; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Clinical Research; Humans; 10. No inequality; 360; Psychiatry; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Mental Disorders; Health Services; Community Mental Health Services; Self Efficacy; 3. Good health; Mental Health; Good Health and Well Being; Interinstitutional Relations; Treatment Outcome; Power; Public Health and Health Services; Psychological; Mental health; Female; Power, Psychological

Objective: Hierarchically organized board-and-staff-run consumer-operated service programs (COSPs) are viewed as organizations that promote recovery while working in concert with community mental health agencies (CMHAs). This study's objective was to determine the effectiveness of such combined services for people serious illness. Methods: A drop-in center and colocated CMHA provided context randomized clinical trial. In a weighted sample, 139 new clients seeking help from were randomly assigned agency-only or combination COSP services. Client-members assessed at baseline eight months on measure symptom severity four recovery-focused outcome measures: personal empowerment, self-efficacy, independent social integration, hopelessness. All scales used have high reliability well-established validity. Differences by condition evaluated multivariate analysis covariance via dummy variable regression. Change scores five outcomes dependent variables. The covariates included status each between-group demographic differences. Results: Results indicated significant changes three associated across time: integration (p<.001), empowerment (p<.006), self-efficacy (p<.001). favored CMHA-only condition. Neither symptomology nor hopelessness differed time. Conclusions: COSPs may be less helpful than alone. (Psychiatric Services 62:915–921, 2011)