Samenvatting

During the past decades deinstitutionalisation policies have led to a transition from inpatient towards
community mental health care. Many European countries implement Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) as an
alternative for inpatient care for “difficult to reach” children and adolescents with severe mental illness. ACT is a
well-organized low-threshold treatment modality; patients are actively approached in their own environment, and
efforts are undertaken to strengthen the patient’s motivation for treatment. The assumption is that ACT may help
to avoid psychiatric hospital admissions, enhance cost-effectiveness, stimulate social participation and support, and
reduce stigma.
ACT has been extensively investigated in adults with severe mental illness and various reviews support its effectiveness
in this patient group. However, to date there is no review available regarding the effectiveness of youth-ACT. It is
unknown whether youth-ACT is as effective as it is in adults. This review aims to assess the effects of youth-ACT on
severity of psychiatric symptoms, general functioning, and psychiatric hospital admissions.