PSYCHIATRIC INTAKE IN GROUPS: A PILOT STUDY OF PROCEDURES, PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS
DAVID ABRAHAMS M.D.1, and
JOHN B. ENRIGHT PH.D.2
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of California School of Medicine, Los Angeles; and Head Physician, Psychiatric Outpatient Department, Harbor General Hospital, Torrance, Calif.
2 Clinical Psychologist, Langley Porter Neuropsychiatric Institute, San Francisco, Calif.
This study explored the feasibility of evaluating the pathology and motivation of 50 applicants to a public mental health clinic in 4 intake groups. Each group met for 5 or 8 sessions with a leader and observer. Diagnoses proved difficult to make in some cases, but dispositions of most applicants were made with confidence. In comparing the dispositional status of these applicants with others who went through traditional individual intake, no significant differences were found in no-show or drop-out rates, or in number still in treatment 6 months later.
