Assertive Community Treatment With CBT and SST for Schizophrenia

Assertive community treatment (ACT) is one of the most well-validated treatment models for
people with severe mental illness, and ACT is one of the few evidence-based practices that
is widely implemented in community mental health programs; however, existing ACT approaches
have little impact on functioning. The ACT model provides a unique opportunity for
implementation of recovery-oriented EBPs throughout community mental health programs in the
US. This project will examine the incremental effectiveness of implementing
cognitive-behavioral strategies and social skills training in ACT relative to ACT, alone.
The investigators will begin to examine a potential mechanism of change involving defeatist
performance beliefs that can interfere with performance of community functioning behaviors,
and will use qualitative methods to identify barriers and factors that contribute to
successful implementation.

Inclusion Criteria:

- DSM-IV-diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder at any stage of illness

Exclusion Criteria:

- Unstable assignment (at least 3 months) to an ACT team;

- Prior exposure to SST or CBT in the past 5 years

- Level of care required interferes with outpatient therapy (e.g., current
hospitalization for psychiatric, substance use or physical illness).