The problem of early outpatient terminations from community mental health centers

A problem for whom

Bibliographic Data

ID11045313
AuthorsGlenn E Littlepage (0000-0001-5589-6316, Middle Tennessee State University, corresponding author), Karl D Kosloski, Karl Kosloski (Middle Tennessee State University), John F Schnelle (Middle Tennessee State University), M Patrick McNees (Middle Tennessee State University), John Gendrich (Middle Tennessee State University), John C Gendrich
Year1976
Volume4
Issue2
Pages164-167
Publication date1976-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Community Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-4392 • E-ISSN: 1520-6629
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/1520-6629(197604)4:2<164::aid-jcop2290040211>3.0.co;2-2
PMID10243935
OpenAlexW2051311284
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited5

This study examined the relationship between the number of client contacts with a mental health center and the client's evaluation of the services. Responses to 3 structured ratings of the center's services and free response comments were obtained from 130 former outpatients. None of the structured evaluation ratings was related to the number of contacts, but clients with several contacts were more negative in their free response comments. In addition, clients who had dropped out of therapy evaluated services as highly as clients whose therapy reached a normal termination. These results question the traditional assumptions that early terminations usually occur because of client dissatisfaction and represent treatment failures.

Mental health · Psychiatry · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychiatric care and mental health services · Psychology · Gerontology