Therapists' Perceptions of Patient Success in Psychiatric Treatment

This study examined whether therapists from different mental health disciplines and with varied philosophies of treatment would differ in their perceptions of patient success or failure, and whether patient attitudes would influence their perceptions. Questionnaires designed to measure attitudes toward mental illness and psychiatric hospitalization were completed by 50 patients on admission and discharge and by their therapists who, upon each patient's discharge, also cornpleted a scale rating his response to treatment. The various scores were then compared in an attempt to determine what factors influenced the therapists' perceptions.