Empirical validation of a mental health intensive outpatient program in a private practice setting

This article demonstrates the treatment effectiveness of a mental health Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in a private practice setting. Pretreatment and posttreatment symptom and clinician-rated Global Assessment of Functioning (GAP; American Psychiatric Association, 2000) scores were used to determine treatment effectiveness. Reliable change indices and clinically significant change scores were used to control for measurement error and to validate functional change. The IOP patients demonstrated statistically and clinically significant symptom reductions on all 9 clinical scales and 4 global measures of distress, demonstrated movement to less severe levels of functioning, and reported a very high degree of consumer satisfaction. Follow-up data indicated continued improvement and satisfaction. Client satisfaction data and follow-up survey data are also reported.