Evidence "co-morbidity"

This two-group community comparison design study examines the impact on psychiatric and physical outcomes through enhancing a standard Program of Assertive Treatment (PACT) with Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses (APNs) and stabilized consumer peer providers (NPACT). Evaluations were conducted at baseline and at 6 months to assess six outcome variables: psychiatric symptoms, community adjustment, disability, physical symptoms, health promotion orientation, and consumer satisfaction. Significant improvements over time were demonstrated for both groups on all variables. However, treatment effects for NPACT over PACT were demonstrated for psychiatric symptoms, community functioning, and consumer satisfaction. NPACT subjects endorsed more medical problems at baseline than did PACT subjects. This may be due to subjects being more likely to disclose physical health symptoms to nurses. In conclusion, enhancements for PACT using advanced practice nurses and consumer peer providers have the potential to address both health and mental health problems of the seriously mentally ill.

Keywords: primary care co-morbidity health promotion nurses module 4

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