HMO Mental Health Patients and Recidivism

The purpose of this study was to identify those factors and characteristics that predict recidivism, or relapse, among HMO mental health patients. As this study was exploratory in character, predictive hypotheses were not tested. Rather, each of 26 factors and characteristics were tested as independent, or explanatory, predicting variables in a series of null hypotheses wherein the number of post-release re-admissions to inpatient status over a one-year period was the dependent variable. Further, combinations of some of the 26 explanatory variables also were tested as independent predicting variables in null hypotheses.

A total of 23 factors, characteristics, or combinations thereof were found to be valid indicators of future recidivism among the members of the research sample, who were HMO mental health patients. Within the classifications of each of the 23 indicators, specific diagnoses or behaviors were identified as the primary predictors of recidivism.

Specific diagnoses and patient behaviors may be used to predict recidivism in mental health patients. While the sample for this study was drawn exclusively from HMO populations, it is reasonable to assume that the indicators and predictors of recidivism identified in this study will be valid for use with mental health patients generally.

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g-term court-ordered medication as a condition of leaving hospital or avoiding a jail term. Proponents of this approach contend that experience indicates that the expense of the close monitoring of patient behavior associated with this treatment approach is substantially less than waiting for disaster to strike and then institutionalizing or re-institutionalizing the individuals. Other social service professionals, however, aver that the apparent lack of success associated with the treatment of schizophrenics in community-based programs is more a manifestation of a lack of sufficient funding and public support than of any inherent deficiencies in the community-based approach (Scott & Dixon, 1995). Rosenheck, Neale, Leaf, Milstein, and Frisman (1995) found that community-based treatment for schizophrenics was both therapeutically effective and cost effective when properly supported. Assertive community treatment (ACT) and intensive case management (ICM) are the treatment approaches most frequently provided in community-based programs (Rosenheck, Neale, Leaf, Milstein, & Frisman, 1995). Community-based treatment programs characterized by lower levels of intervention, particularly in the area of individual case management approa
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 6445
Approximate Pages = 26 (250 words per page)

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