Cues of disability and treatment continuation of chronic schizophrenics

Serious questions have arisen concerning the retention of the chronically ill in outpatient community mental health clinics (CMHC). This study tests a model based upon sociological theories of disability and the sick role to explain differential continuation in treatment among schizophrenics. We hypothesized that economic, social and medical cues facilitate a patient's self-definition of disability and contribute to continuation in treatment. Data were collected from the clinical charts of 879 chronic schizophrenic patients at five CMHC's. Hypotheses were tested using OLS multiple regression and logistic regression. Findings indicated level of functioning may be an important explanatory variable. Analysis strongly indicated the efficacy of the medical model in the area of treatment continuation.