Effect of predischarge interventions on aftercare attendance: process and outcome

A widely recognized problem in the mental health services delivery system is that of patients' early discontinuance of therapy. But less attention has been given to the high rate of nonattendance at initial appointments in outpatient mental health settings. The purpose of the study discussed in this article was to determine if particular predischarge interventions had an effect on whether psychiatric patients attended their initial aftercare appointments at a Veterans Administration mental health clinic. Two groups of patients were given predischarge interventions and one was not (a control group). Results showed a trend of greater attendance at initial aftercare appointments by those who received a predischarge intervention; however, the differences were not statistically significant. Suggestions for clinicians and researchers are provided.