In order to examine the effect of a consumer and professional co-taught seminar on recovery in persons with schizophrenia, fourth year medical students completed attitudinal surveys at the beginning and end of their 7-week rotation in psychiatry. Analysis of results comparing average change in scores in a group exposed to the seminar (n = 24) and a control group not exposed (n = 10), shows measurable change in some survey items indicative of attitudinal change. Such a teaching format may provide a broader perspective on the long term issues for persons with schizophrenia. This can serve to counter the limitations of the brief exposure students receive to hospitalized patients in the most debilitating phase of the illness. The co-teaching model may provide a new and balanced perspective for medical students, facilitating a more holistic understanding of patients and countering a possible overemphasis on diagnosis. Such a format could have application in teaching psychiatric residents, nurses, and other health professionals.

N onattendance at outpatient appointments has been recognized worldwide as a significant clinical and systemic problem (1). Missed appointments are economically costly to mental health systems and personally costly to patients, who experience a greater risk of relapse and readmission to hospital (2).

W La Revue canadienne de psychiatrie, vol 55, no 3, mars 2010 150Objective: Although housing is widely recognized as a crucial issue for people with severe and persistent mental illness, there is much to learn about the ongoing housing experiences of this group of people. Using secondary data, this study examined the housing histories of 65 assertive community treatment (ACT) clients from 2 years prior until up to 7 years after intake, totalling 407 addresses. Method:We used statistical process control to assess the significance and longevity of preand post-ACT changes in residential tenure and independent living. We used multivariate survival analysis to explore participant and residence characteristics associated with residential stability.Results: After 6 months in ACT, the client population showed a significant, sustained improvement in housing stability. Similarly, shortly after ACT entry, there was a marked increase in the proportion of participants living independently. At the participant level, substance abuse was the strongest predictor of residential instability; other predictors included age (30 years or younger) and sex (female). Residence characteristics also proved important; independent housing, neighbourhood income (a proxy for housing quality), and receipt of a rental subsidy were associated with significantly longer tenure, controlling for client characteristics. Conclusions:The timing and magnitude of the observed changes imply that ACT was effective in helping clients to achieve stable housing and to live independently. The results also underscore the importance of high-quality housing in promoting residential stability.Can J Psychiatry. 2010;55(3):150-156. Clinical Implications· ACT increases housing stability over the long term. · People with cooccurring problems (severe and persistent mental illness combined with substance abuse) have ongoing difficulty attaining stable housing. · In conjunction with ACT involvement, greater access to independent, high-quality housing (for example, through subsidies) can significantly increase residential stability. Limitations· Our study was observational rather than experimental. · Our study followed the client population of only one ACT team. · There were a small number of gaps in the available data on client housing experiences.

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