Individual research recommendation details

Recommendation ID

CG115/4

Question

For which service users who are moderately and severely dependent on alcohol is an assertive community treatment model a clinically and cost-effective intervention compared with standard care?

Any explanatory notes
(if applicable)

Why this is important:- Many people, in particular those with severe problems and complex comorbidities, do not benefit from treatment and/or lose contact with services. This leads to poor outcomes and wastes resources. Assertive community treatment models have been shown to be effective in retaining people in treatment in those with serious mental illness and who misuse alcohol and drugs but the evidence for an impact on outcomes is not proven. A number of small pilot studies suggest that an assertive community approach can bring benefit in both service retention and clinical outcomes in alcohol misuse. Given the high morbidity and mortality associated with chronic severe alcohol dependence the results of this study will have important implications for the structure and provision of alcohol services in the NHS.

Source guidance details

Comes from guidance

Alcohol-use disorders: diagnosis, assessment and management of harmful drinking (high-risk drinking) and alcohol dependence

Number

CG115

Date issued

February 2011

Other details