Psychiatric new-patient clinic non-attenders

Non-attenders at a psychiatric new-patient clinic were seen and interviewed six weeks after the missed appointment, as were a group of controls who did attend. The non-attenders were more likely to have had frequent changes of occupation or belong to families where this was the case with the family breadwinner; a history of court conviction; and a history of previous psychiatric treatment. They were less likely to have improved since referral to the clinic; and to have a diagnosis of manic depressive psychosis, depressed type. The findings are discussed. There appears to be some self-selection, the most treatable patients keeping their appointments.