The problem of violence against individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) has received relatively, little notice, despite several studies suggesting an exceptionally high prevalence of victimization in this population. This paper describes the results of an investigation of the prevalence and correlates of past year physical and sexual assault among a large sample of women and men with SMI drawn from inpatient and outpatient settings across 4 states. Results confirmed preliminary findings of a high prevalence of victimization in this population (with sexual abuse more prevalent for women and physical abuse more prevalent for men), and indicated the existence of a range of correlates of recent victimization, including demographic factors and living circumstances, history of childhood abuse, and psychiatric illness severity and substance abuse. The research and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

A cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program for PTSD was developed to address its high prevalence in persons with severe mental illness receiving treatment at community mental health centers. CBT was compared to treatment as usual (TAU) in a randomized controlled trial with 108 clients with PTSD and either major mood disorder (85%) or schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (15%), of whom 25% also had borderline personality disorder. Eighty-one percent of clients assigned to CBT participated in the program. Intent-to-treat analyses showed that CBT clients improved significantly more than clients in TAU at blinded post-treatment and 3-and 6-month follow-up assessments in PTSD symptoms, other symptoms, perceived health, negative trauma-related beliefs, knowledge about PTSD, and case manager working alliance. The effects of CBT on PTSD were strongest in clients with severe PTSD. Homework completion in CBT predicted greater reductions in symptoms. Changes in trauma-related beliefs in CBT mediated improvements in PTSD. The findings suggest that clients with severe mental illness and PTSD can benefit from CBT, despite severe symptoms, suicidal thinking, psychosis, and vulnerability to hospitalizations. Keywordsposttraumatic stress disorder; severe mental illness; cognitive behavioral therapy; mood disorder; schizophrenia People with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and treatmentrefractory major depression are more likely to have experienced adverse events in childhood such as sexual and physical abuse, and to be victimized in adulthood, compared to the general population (Bebbington et al., 2004;Goodman, Rosenberg, Mueser, & Drake, 1997;Shevlin, Dorahy, & Adamson, 2007). As a presumed result of this high vulnerability to trauma, surveys of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in treatment samples of people with prolonged and severe mental illness have reported rates of current PTSD ranging between 29% and 48% (Calhoun et al., 2007;Cascardi, Mueser, DeGiralomo, & Murrin, 1996;Craine, Henson, Colliver, & MacLean, 1988;Howgego et al., 2005;Mueser et al., 1998;Mueser et al., 2001;Mueser et al., 2004c;Switzer et al., 1999). These rates far exceed the prevalence of PTSD in the general population, estimated to be 3.5% over 12-months (Kessler, Chiu, Demler, & Walters, 2005b) and 7 to 12% over the lifetime (Breslau, Davis, Andreski, & Peterson, 1991;Breslau, Peterson, Poisson, Schultz, & Lucia, 2004;Kessler et al., 2005a;Kessler, Sonnega, Bromet, Hughes, & Nelson, 1995;Resnick, Kilpatrick, Dansky, Saunders, & Best, 1993).Persons with severe mental illness may experience psychotic distortions or delusions with themes involving sexual or physical abuse (Coverdale & Grunebaum, 1998), raising questions about the reliability and validity of self-reports of trauma and PTSD in this population. However, research addressing this question supports the validity of self-reports (Read, van Os, Morrison, & Ross, 2005). Self-reports of trauma in clients with severe mental illness are reliable over ...

The authors compared 3 approaches to vocational rehabilitation for severe mental illness (SMI): the individual placement and support (IPS) model of supported employment, a psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) program, and standard services. Two hundred four unemployed clients (46% African American, 30% Latino) with SMI were randomly assigned to IPS, PSR, or standard services and followed for 2 years. Clients in IPS had significantly better employment outcomes than clients in PSR and standard services, including more competitive work (73.9% vs. 18.2% vs. 27.5%, respectively) and any paid work (73.9% vs. 34.8% vs. 53.6%, respectively). There were few differences in nonvocational outcomes between programs. IPS is a more effective model than PSR or standard brokered vocational services for improving employment outcomes in clients with SMI.

Objective Few studies targeting obesity in serious mental illness report clinically significant risk reduction, and none have been replicated within community settings or have demonstrated sustained outcomes after intervention withdrawal. This pragmatic clinical trial aims to replicate positive health outcomes demonstrated in a prior randomized effectiveness study of the In SHAPE program across urban community mental health organizations serving an ethnically diverse population. Methods Persons with serious mental illness and BMI>25 receiving services in three community mental health organizations were randomized to the 12-month In SHAPE program (health promotion coach and membership to a public fitness club) or to fitness club membership alone. Primary outcomes were weight and cardiorespiratory fitness (measured with the 6-Minute Walk Test) collected at baseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, and 18-months. Results Participants (N=210) were ethnically diverse (46% non-White) with mean baseline BMI=36.8±8.2. At 12-months In SHAPE (n=104) compared to a fitness club membership alone (n=106) contributed to greater reduction in weight and improved fitness. Primary outcomes were maintained at 18-months follow-up. Approximately half of In SHAPE participants (51% at 12-month program completion and 46% at 18-month follow-up) achieved clinically significant cardiovascular risk reduction (≥5% weight loss or >50 meter increase on the 6-Minute Walk Test). Conclusions Sustained weight loss and improved fitness can be achieved by community mental health organizations providing health promotion coaching and access to fitness facilities. Health promotion should be integrated into mental health services for persons with serious mental illness at risk for cardiovascular disease and early mortality.

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a fitness health mentor program (In SHAPE) in improving physical fitness and weight loss among overweight and obese adults with serious mental illness. Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 133 persons with serious mental illness and a body mass index (BMI) >25 who were assigned either to the In SHAPE program (one year of weekly sessions with a fitness trainer plus a fitness club membership) or to one year of fitness club membership and education. Assessments were conducted at baseline and three, six, nine, and 12 months later. Results Participants had a mean baseline weight of 231.8±54.8 pounds and a mean BMI of 37.6±8.2. At 12-month follow-up, In SHAPE (N=67) compared with fitness club membership and education (N=66) was associated with three times greater fitness club attendance, twice as much participation in physical exercise, greater engagement in vigorous physical activity, and improvement in diet. Twice the proportion of participants (40% versus 20%) achieved clinically significant improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness (>50 m on the six-minute walk test). Weight loss and BMI did not differ between groups. Among In SHAPE participants, 49% achieved either clinically significant increased fitness or weight loss (5% or greater), and 24% achieved both clinically significant improved fitness and weight loss. Conclusions The In SHAPE program achieved clinically significant reduction in cardiovascular risk for almost one-half of participants at 12 months. Although the intervention showed promise in improving fitness, optimizing weight loss may require additional intensive, multicomponent dietary interventions.