A cognitive behavioural intervention for case managed clients

This paper outlines a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based psychosocial intervention for case managed clients in a community mental health setting. The aim of the study was to design a CBT based psycho-educational program which addressed stress management and supported self-management skills for case managed clients with chronic and serious mental illness. It was anticipated that the CBT intervention group would have improved post study levels of functioning, and decreased levels of distress, as compared to the control group. Twenty-four clients volunteered for the study, eight females and 16 males. They ranged in ages from 20 to 69 years, with an average age of 43.5 years. There was no specific diagnostic group targeted. Outcome measures used were the Health of the Nation Outcomes Scale and the Mental Health Inventory. The CBT intervention was run for 2 hours a week over 8 weeks using a group format. There was an improvement in behavioural problems, indicating an improvement in functioning and a decrease in anxiety levels. It was concluded that CBT based psycho education programs can improve outcomes for community mental health clients