We have a primary research focus on persons with severe mental illness living in the community. In ongoing studies we are investigating the life situation of people with schizophrenia and other severe mental illness in terms of quality of life, needs for care and social network. In collaborative studies we are also focusing the housing situation, daily occupation and burden on relatives. The societal situation of this group of persons is also mirrored in ongoing investigations of stigma, empowerment and autonomy.

The effectiveness of care and rehabilitation of people with severe mental illness in community-based services has been questioned and is still under debate. Many patients do not comply with treatment and as a consequence relapse and are rehospitalized. Other criticism has concerned the failure of community-based services to target and appropriately serve severely mental ill persons. Content of services has not been adequate, and continuity of services has failed. In a number of studies we have therefore investigated different aspects of patient satisfaction with care and support in different mental health service settings. Through the years we have also established an interest in studies of the effectiveness of intervention models and are among others performing studies on case management models.

There is evidence that a good helping alliance or therapeutic alliance is essential for compliance with care and outcome of care. Regarding the severely mentally ill this is furthermore linked to issues of autonomy and empowerment of the patients within the framework of a partnership care model, rather than a paternalistic care model. In different studies we have investigated the role of helping alliance and are at present performing an intervention study aimed at the promotion of patient autonomy and involvement in care and its impact on outcome of care.

Of specific empirical and methodological interest is the quality of life issue. In cross-sectional and longitudinal studies we are investigating quality of life and determinants of quality of life for people with severe mental illness.

Center for Evidence-Based Psychosocial Interventions