Treatment outcomes research

Menninger has a legacy of innovation, but we are not content to rest upon past achievements. The future of psychiatry depends on quantifying outcomes and using this knowledge to improve treatment for mental disorders. The two-phase Menninger Clinic-wide Outcomes and Longitudinal Follow-Up Project will help us learn how well our patients respond to treatment, participate in and adhere to treatment after discharge and maintain treatment gains over the long-term.

Phase I of the project, which was implemented in 2008, involves gathering adult patient data related to symptoms and functioning throughout hospitalization. Phase II involves obtaining data from discharged patients to learn about clinical outcomes over time and adherence rates for recommended outpatient treatment.

Both phases are ongoing so we can develop an extensive database of patient assessments to draw from in future studies. Together, they form the foundation upon which we will undertake additional research studies. Obtaining data through this and subsequent projects is imperative if we are to improve our treatments, while influencing the national debate on public policy related to mental health.

One of the biggest hurdles patients face upon discharge is to hold onto the skills they have learned in treatment. Recovery involves small steps forward over a long period of time, and for many, it is a slow process with numerous ups and downs. While we strive to help patients with treatment-resistant mental illnesses engage in therapy and remain in effective treatment after discharge, we do not know our long-term outcomes. The critical, immediate question this project will answer is: Do patients adhere to treatment plans and maintain the gains they made during treatment after discharge?

The evaluation of inpatient outcomes in both the immediate and long term is an urgent and important process for The Clinic and the field of psychiatry. Important questions include: Is the therapy working while the patient is at The Clinic? Are the tools with which patients learn to manage their illness useful and effective after discharge? What personal or situational factors are causing patients to relapse or deteriorate? Can continued contact with Menninger, through an online “alumni” Web site and assessments after discharge, provide valuable feedback to patients that will help them overcome obstacles they face in the real world?

Menninger is a leading psychiatric hospital dedicated to
treating individuals with mood, personality, anxiety and
addictive disorders, teaching mental health professionals
and advancing mental healthcare through research.

The Menninger Clinic | 800-351-9058 | 713-275-5000 | Houston, Texas
Affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine and
The Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center
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