Age, persistence and improvement in an open out-patient group

The ages of 87 patients attending an open out-patient group in a general hospital psychiatric out-patient department are analysed in relation to persistence with treatment. A highly significant correlation (p smaller than .001) is obtained between increasing age and continued attendance, and a significantly greater number are found to attend for six months or more in the age-range 37-47 than at other ages. In a sub-group of 35 patients, all of whom had attended more than four sessions and had returned a questionnaire, significant correlations are obtained between age and symptomatic improvement (p smaller than .05) and between continued attendance and improvement in interpersonal relationships (p smaller than .05).