Intensive outpatient treatment of persons with mental retardation and psychiatric disorder: A preliminary study

The impact of intensive outpatient mental health interventions (in a dual d iagnosis clinic) on the hospitalization rate and length of stay was examine d for 28 adults with mental retardation and severe psychiatric disorder. Th ey were selected on the basis of frequent use of mental, medical, and socia l services. Charts were reviewed for the 12-month periods before and after referral to the program to compare service utilization. A single group pret est-posttest design with no control group was employed. Correlated t tests comparing the pre- and postprogram number of hospitalizations and lengths o f stay indicated significant decreases in both hospitalizations and lengths of stay after program entry, which may result in significant reductions in hospital costs.