Analysis and aggregation of CMHC outcome data in a statewide evaluation system: a case report

Several potential procedures for simplifying and aggregating treatment outcome data from CMHCs differing in outcome instrumentation and methodology are presented and illustrated. Their respective advantages, disadvantages, and suitability for various purposes are explored, and considerations in selecting a particular method or technique are discussed. Findings obtained by using these techniques to analyze treatment outcome data from nine CMHCs over a three-year period are presented. Selected results highlighting the relative importance of methodological, subject, status, diagnostic, treatment process, and service delivery variables are presented. The implications of these findings for the problems and limitations inherent in cross-CMHC comparisons are illustrated and discussed. Applications for aggregated and non-aggregated analyses are suggested, and an illustration using aggregated outcome data to identify potential predictor variables for positive outcomes is presented along with differences for various outcome groupings.