Qualitative analysis of three case management programs.

Most investigations of case management service programs for people with severe mental illness lack detail about the specialized interventions employed, their key differences, and the changes they undergo over time. Qualitative data are presented which describe and compare three service approaches, and their relationship to quantitative outcomes from a cost-effectiveness study of the three models. The organization and functioning of the PACT Adaptation Model were most conductive to enhancing client psychosocial functioning and significantly reducing intensive mental health service costs. Outcomes for the Clinical Team and Intensive Broker Models were less consonant with the qualitative findings.