End of the road for treatment-as-usual studies?

Journal article

Using treatment as usual (TAU) in trials has obscured the repeated finding that assertive outreach has never reduced hospitalisation when compared with treatment by multidisciplinary teams (community mental health teams, CMHTs). Its use has delayed recognising that CMHTs are the more cost-effective, evidence-based approach. The term should be abandoned and trials should compare two equally well-defined services.

Authors: Burns, T

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science
• Volume: 195
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 5-6
• Publication date: 2009-07-01
• DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.062968
• EISSN: 1472-1465
• ISSN: 0007-1250
• Language: English
• Keywords: Mental Disorders; Patient Care Team; Humans; Community Mental Health Services; Physician's Practice Patterns