Therapy improvement in two out-patient mental health clinics

This study describes clients, therapists, treatment characteristics, and therapy outcomes for 551 consecutive, first-time clients at two out-patient mental health clinics. Significant improvement was found on target problems, global outcome ratings, and Hopkins Symptom Checklist scores for clients who mutually terminated therapy. The target problem and outcome ratings remained higher for this group than for dropouts at a six-month follow-up interview. Clients who improved most were those who were initially most uncomfortable and disturbed. Improvement was also strongly related to the number of therapy sessions. The implications of these and other results are discussed.