Evaluation of outcomes for military mental health partial hospitalization program

In the military health system, there has been a growing demand for mental health services over the last two decades. Partial hospitalization programs fill a critical niche between outpatient and inpatient services. The present study evaluated immediate and long-term outcomes of a military mental health partial hospitalization program at a large military treatment facility. This study collected retrospective data of active duty patients who completed a 6-day partial hospitalization program within a 2-year period. Results showed that the majority of participants were young, male, and junior enlisted service members endorsing suicidal ideation as well as adjustment/stressor- and depressive-related psychiatric symptoms. Immediately after treatment, participants showed a significant reduction in psychiatric symptoms and dysfunction after treatment. In the long-term, most participants engaged in mental health services post-discharge, though engagement with services decreased over time. In addition, career-impacting medical recommendations were made for over half of participants with almost three-quarters of these recommendations made before or during enrollment in the program. This study expanded the limited evidence base for military mental health partial hospitalization programs. In addition, this study offered data on the frequency of career-impacting medical recommendations made for patients engaged in care at this level of acuity.