Impact of an assertive community treatment model of care on the treatment of prisoners with a serious mental illness

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to describe the impact of a mental health assertive community treatment prison model of care (PMOC) on improving the ability to identify prisoner needs, provide interventions and monitor their efficacy. Methods: We carried out a file review across five prisons of referrals in the year before the implementation of the PMOC in 2010 ( n = 423) compared with referrals in the year after ( n = 477). Results: Some improvements in the identification of needs and providing interventions were detected. There was increased use of medication management and clinically significant improvement in addressing engagement with families. Monthly multi-disciplinary team face-to-face contact improved. Conclusions: Meeting the needs of mentally ill prisoners is challenged by the complexity of the custodial environment. Improvements made resulted from changing the model of care, rather than adding new resources.