OBJECTIVE: This study describes medication compliance rates among a
group of homeless mentally ill subjects who received assertive community
treatment. METHOD: The medication compliance of 77 homeless persons who had
been referred to an assertive community treatment program was prospectively
evaluated at baseline and quarterly for 1 year. RESULTS: A minority of the
cohort (29%) was compliant at entry into the assertive community treatment
program. Compliance significantly increased after 3 months (57%) and
remained high through the year. Medication compliance was associated with
fewer psychiatric symptoms but not with better housing placements or fewer
days in the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Medication compliance rates among a
cohort of homeless persons with severe mental illness were markedly higher
after they entered a program of assertive community treatment.
Abstract Teaser