A comparative study of psychotherapy referrals.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Out-patient psychotherapy services face challenges with patient attendance and treatment adherence.
• Appointment scheduling systems significantly impact patient access and engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a revised appointment offering policy on patient attendance, suitability for psychotherapy, and treatment dropout rates.
• To assess whether the new policy improved patient flow and service utilization.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patient referral and attendance data before and after a policy change.
• Comparison of key performance indicators including Did Not Attend (DNA) rates, suitability assessments, and early dropout rates.

Main Results:

• The revised policy led to a significant reduction in Did Not Attend (DNA) rates for assessment interviews.
• Patient suitability for psychotherapy and rates of early dropout remained unchanged.
• Fewer patients were assessed and commenced therapy under the new system, indicating reduced service access.

Conclusions:

• While the new appointment system successfully reduced patient no-shows, it inadvertently created a barrier to accessing psychotherapy services.
• Further policy adjustments are needed to optimize patient flow and ensure equitable access to mental health care.