Brief social work intervention for people with severe and persistent disorders

Abstract

A small-scale pilot study of assessment and short-term care {brief social work intervention} for people in the community who suffer from severe and persistent mental disorders is described. Case vignettes portray the wide variation in disability- inter-personal, social, and environmental- which subjects endure, in addition to their mental disorders. Most subjects' quality of life was low, and many had obvious material, inter-personal or health needs which pre-existing support services were not addressing. Nonetheless, most subjects were managing their lives independently, and their coping skills pointed up the need to consider a strengths, rather than a needs, style of assessment. Additionally, a model of care that incorporates change, not just maintenance, seemed appropriate.