Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Treatment dropouts from a community mental health center

  • Articles
  • Published:
Community Mental Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Among 928 discharges from the Fort Logan Mental Health Center, 34% had left treatment without staff approval. These treatment dropouts differed significantly from a comparison group on 39 demographic, mental status, and social history variables. A cluster analysis of those variables yielded eight oblique clusters, characterizing dropouts as more impaired psychologically, more angry, and with a greater tendency to act out. Analyses by sex indicated that male anger was associated with acting out against others, female anger with anxiety and other neurotic symptoms. Dropouts were also younger and less likely to need custodial care. Findings suggest that dropouts are in need of treatment and constitute a problem for community mental health.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Binner, P. A data base for a complex card system. In P. M. McCullough (Ed.),Establishing a data base for a statewide mental health program. Boulder, Col: Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiler, E. W. Initial complaints as predictors of continuation in psychotherapy.Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1959,15, 344–345.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kraft, A. M. The Fort Logan Mental Health Center: Program developments.Community Mental Health Journal, 1965,1, 99–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorr, M., Katz, M. M., & Rubenstein, E. A. The prediction of length of stay in psychotherapy.Journal of Consulting Psychology, 1958,22, 321–327.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McNair, D., Lorr, M., & Callahan, D. Patient and therapist influences on quitting psychotherapy.Journal of Consulting Psychology, 1963,27, 10–17.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tryon, R. C. Cumulative communality cluster analysis.Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1958,18, 3–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tryon, R. C., & Bailey, D. The BC TRY system of cluster and factor analysis.Multivariate Behavioral Research, 1966,1, 95–111.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology at Chico State University, Chico, California

    James Kline Ph.D. (Assistant Professor of Psychology) &  Michael King Ph.D. (Assistant Professor of Psychology)

Authors
  1. James Kline Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael King Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Both authors were formerly in the Research Department, Fort Logan Mental Health Center, Denver, Colorado. This study was based on data supplied by the Fort Logan Record System Project, Dr. Paul Binner, Director. The Record System is supported in part by Public Health Service Grant No. 5-R11-MH-00931-07 from the National Institute of Mental Health.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kline, J., King, M. Treatment dropouts from a community mental health center. Community Ment Health J 9, 354–360 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01410872

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01410872

Keywords

Search

Navigation