title: Factors associated with missed first appointments at a psychiatric clinic.
abstract: This study identified characteristics ofpatients who missed their intake appointments at a university psychiatric outpatient clinic for persons with serious mental illness after referral from a state agency. Of the 313 patients whose charts were reviewed, 113 (36 percent) missed their appointment. Demographic characteristics, DSM-IV diagnoses, clinician rating scales, and psychopharmacological therapy were compared between attenders and nonattenders. Five predictors of nonattendance were significant: being younger, being Hispanic, having a poor family support system, not taking psychotropic medications, and having health insurance. Persons at greater risk of missing their intake appointment may be prospectively identified and targeted for measures to improve compliance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Research and Management, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo 79106, USA. rohland@ama.ttuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Gina R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Kruse
authors.forename: Barbara M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Rohland
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D013781:Texas; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology*