[The efficacy of an individualized treatment schedule to maintain treatment adherence in an urban community mental health center].

OBJECTIVE

We present an observational study on the efficacy of an individualized treatment schedule, which is meant to support treatment adherence in an urban community mental health center (CMHC).

METHODS

The present investigation was carried out in the natural setting of a CMHC in Vienna. During a 3-month period we observed the compliance with the appointments and the actions taken by the team in response to missed appointments as well as the utilization of the CMHC during a follow-up period of 6 months.

RESULTS

During the observation period 393 (19,2 %) of 2049 scheduled visits were missed affecting more than half of the patients. Only a minority of patients with low-intensity treatment and a high rate of missed appointments had a high risk for discontinuing treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Missed appointments in outpatient psychiatric care are a common phenomenon but they constitute no major threat to the continuity of care for the majority of the patients due to the graduated efforts of the team. The time required to make up for missed appointments is considerable but the results of the follow-up confirmed the beneficial effects on utilization of psychiatric care.