Psychiatric new-patient clinic non-attenders.
Non-attenders at a psychiatric new-patient clinic were seen and interviewed six weeks after the missed appointment, as were a group of controls who did attend. The non-attenders were more likely to have had frequent changes of occupation or belong to families where this was the case with the family breadwinner; a history of court conviction; and a history of previous psychiatric treatment. They were less likely to have improved since referral to the clinic; and to have a diagnosis of manic depressive psychosis, depressed type. The findings are discussed. There appears to be some self-selection, the most treatable patients keeping their appointments.
D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000628:therapy; D004651:Employment; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012926:Social Control, Formal