Characteristics associated with outcome in a community mental health partial hospitalization program

This study examined 17 characteristics of 519 clients in a large Midwestern partial hospitalization program which were thought to predict differential suitability for treatment. The Goal Attainment Scale, the Kincannon/Mini-Mult, and state hospital recidivism were used to establish outcome groups. Twelve of 17 characteristics were singularly associated with treatment outcome. Strongest associations occurred with the variables previous state hospitalizations, age at admission, age at onset, intelligence, and a parental incidence of mental illness. Models for predicting success were developed for discriminating successful from less successful clients.