Patient attitudes toward partial hospitalization and subsequent treatment outcome

The purpose of the current study was to examine patients' attitudes and their effects on treatment outcome in a partial-hospitalization program (PHP). Sixty-nine consenting PHP patients were administered the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) and the Colorado Psychiatric Hospital Factor Attitude Scale (CPH) before and after treatment. Four groups were delineated: completed PHP, left against medical advice, did not show, and discharged to unit. Data were analyzed using a 2 x (2) ANOVA. The hypothesis that unfavorable attitudes would improve significantly by posttest was supported. However, there is no suggestion that attitude can predict treatment outcome. Implications for future research are discussed.