Service and Patient Predictors of Continuation in Clinic-Based Treatment

The authors studied 125 chronic patients who entered treatment at five community mental health clinics to identify the patient and service predictors of continuation in treatment. Patients who remained in treatment at the end of one year were significantly more likely than those who dropped out to have received medication at early visits, to have participated in psychotherapy, and to be chronically psychotic. Analysis of the clinics that most successfully retained patients in treatment indicated that service characteristics rather than patient characteristics accounted for the clinics' success. The authors discuss the treatment programs at the two most successful clinics and the implications of the findings for community clinics.