Predicting client improvement from and satisfaction with community mental health center services

The present study assesses client improvement from and satisfaction with CMHC services, and attempts to examine the presence of positive bias from responders. Results based on questionnaires mailed to 1,000 former clients indicated both high consumer satisfaction and reported improvement attributable to treatment. Responders and nonresponders did not differ on demographic or treatment variables related to post-treatment improvement. A multiple regression analysis was computed and yielded an estimated index of improvement for responders. No differences obtained on this measure between responders and nonresponders, thereby not supporting the presence of a positive bias in this sample. confidence in therapist, satisfaction with the therapeutic relationship, and number of individual sessions were the most positive improvement correlates, with lack of contact and increasing age most negatively related to improvement. Discussion focuses on the implications for generalization of results based on responders' data.