Vijverberg R et al. – This systematic review was aimed to evaluate the effects of Youth ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) on severity of psychiatric symptoms, general functioning, and psychiatric hospital admissions. Although studies on Youth ACT is limited, the literature available suggests Youth ACT is effective in terms of reducing severity of psychiatric symptoms, improving general functioning, and reducing duration and frequency of psychiatric hospital admissions. Furthermore, the effect of Youth ACT was found to be comparable with the effect of ACT in adults.

Methods

• Literature search was performed using PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsychINFO, and CINAHL with articles published up to March 2017.
• The Oxford Centre of Evidence–Based Medicine grading system was used to assess methodological quality of the included studies.

Results

• In total, 13 studies were included for the review.
• Youth–ACT was found to be effective in reducing severity of psychiatric symptoms, improving general functioning, and reducing duration and frequency of psychiatric hospital admissions.