ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a structured, 6-week mental health day treatment program was meeting its objectives and to examine the program's effectiveness with specific patient groups. METHOD: Self-report questionnaires focusing on psychiatric symptoms, assertiveness, stress management, and social functioning were completed by patients directly prior to admission (pretest), at discharge (posttest), and at 4-month follow-up. Clinician ratings, including the DSM-III-R Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale, were collected. Ninety-one participants completed pre- and posttests, and 51 completed the 4-month follow-up. RESULTS: The majority of the participants displayed affective disorders or adjustment disorders. There was significant reduction in psychiatric symptoms and improvement in assertiveness, social functioning, and stress management from pretest to posttest. These gains were maintained at follow-up. All diagnostic groups responded similarly, except the bipolar disorder group. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that the program was meeting its objectives and offer strong support for the usefulness of short-term day treatment for wide range of patients. The bipolar group performed differently compared with the other subsamples. The reliability of the GAF scale and when it may be most useful are discussed.
Subject(s)
Day Care, Medical/methods , Mental Disorders/rehabilitation , Psychotherapy, Brief , Adjustment Disorders/genetics , Adjustment Disorders/psychology , Adjustment Disorders/rehabilitation , Adult , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/genetics , Mental Disorders/psychology , Middle Aged , Mood Disorders/genetics , Mood Disorders/psychology , Mood Disorders/rehabilitation , Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care , Personality Inventory , Psychotherapy, Group , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to identify factors affecting the progress in physical abilities and activities of daily living of patients admitted to a stroke unit. A series of 70 patients admitted consecutively were assessed on a series of tests of motor, functional and cognitive abilities at admission. They were assessed for level of motor abilities and activities of daily living at discharge and 9 months after stroke. Predictive equations were developed which account for between 61% and 33% of the variance in motor abilities and activities of daily living at discharge and at 9 months after stroke. The most important factor influencing outcome was the degree of motor loss.
