Treatment expectancy among psychiatric inpatients

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Treatment expectation (TE) is a recognized factor influencing patient outcomes.
• Understanding variables related to TE is crucial for improving therapeutic effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between treatment expectation and treatment outcome.
• To identify background and treatment variables associated with treatment expectation.

Main Methods:

• A cooperative study involving 79 psychiatric wards across 18 Veterans Administration Medical Centers.
• Psychiatric inpatients completed the Veterans Adjustment Scale (VETS) including a TE measure at admission.
• Significant others completed the Personal Adjustment and Role Skills Scale (PARS) at admission and 3 months post-discharge.
• Analyses controlled for patient input characteristics and were cross-validated.

Main Results:

• Treatment expectation was found to be significantly related to treatment outcome.
• Several background and treatment variables were identified as predictors of TE.
• Age, high vigor, and low alienation were particularly influential factors affecting TE.

Conclusions:

• Treatment expectation is a valid predictor of psychiatric treatment outcomes.
• Patient demographics and psychological states like vigor and alienation play a key role in shaping treatment expectations.
• Targeting these factors may enhance patient expectations and subsequently improve treatment results.