EVALUATION OF PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION PROGRAM FOR
PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS
MARILYN ROLAIN
AND
VERONICA HARPER
University of Minnesota at Duluth

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of St. Mary's Hospital's Mental Health Center's Day Treatment Program. This is a structured, short-term mental health day treatment program for persons who have a primary diagnosis of mental illness. The diagnosis is typically Major Depressive Episode or Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The program was designed so that clients spend a considerable amount of the day within the therapeutic milieu of the program while maintaining considerable contact with their community, such as home, family, and social and work environments.
The sample consisted of 25 clients, who all have the diagnosis of Major Depressive Episode and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. They all completed the pre- and post- Beck Depression Inventory and the pre- and post- Beck Anxiety Inventory. Ten of these clients agreed to participate in a qualitative study to evaluate the effectiveness of the program, and to gain a more in-depth understanding of what each participant thought about the program. The researchers used an interview guide to determine if the participants believed that the program had helped them learn and develop social skills. The interview guide was designed to try to determine if there was an increase in socialization and a decrease of isolation in their daily lives.
The analysis included both quantitative and qualitative data . To analyze the quantitative secondary data, a repeated measures t-test was used on the pre-and post- Beck Depression and Beck Anxiety Inventories that the 25 clients had taken previously. The results were statistically significant, and indicated that levels of depression and anxiety were reduced. Qualitative data from the interview guide was also analyzed. Questions on the first part of the interview guide focused on the participants' social functioning after completing the day treatment program. The second part of the interview guide asked participants what they thought were the program's strengths and weaknesses. The aspects of functioning that were included in the qualitative data, using the interview guide, were family involvement, social activities, and community involvement, having a job and living independently.
Seven of the ten participants rated the Day treatment Program as an #8 to #10, with the #10 being the most helpful. Inductive logic was used to identify different themes in what the participants had shared during the interview. Qualitative responses indicate that all 10 of the participants thought the program was a positive experience for them. All 10 of the participants also reported that there was decreased depression, and 9 out of the 10 participants reported decreased anxiety. All 10 of the participants reported regular contact with family members. Social contact with mothers and daughters was reported most frequently. An improvement in coping skills was considered to be the most beneficial component of the program to the participants who were interviewed. An increase in the length of the treatment day, and increasing Cognitive Behavioral groups was recommended by the participants.

Two of the 10 participants interviewed indicated that one of the group leaders was not warm and understanding, which decreased the benefits of group sessions for them. Several of the participants stated that there should be more one-to-one counseling sessions.
The quantitative findings about the overall effectiveness of The Day Treatment Program were quite convincing based on a well-validated measuring instrument. The results of the analysis of the secondary data indicate that the 25 clients had decreased depression after completing the Day Treatment Program. The findings can not guarantee, however, that the decreased depression of the clients was due only to the completion of the Day Treatment Program. The qualitative results were positive, but not definitive due to their explorative nature. There were suggestions about how program participants felt about different components of the program, but the questions were not designed to systematically test any hypotheses about the program.
The researchers recommend, on the basis of their findings, that the Day Treatment Program's hours be expanded during the week, or perhaps, there could be programming on the week-ends or during the early evening hours so that clients would have more time in treatment. The number of Cognitive Behavioral groups could also be increased as many of the participants indicated these groups were most helpful. The researchers also recommend that the professionals in the Day Treatment Program share their successful program with other professionals by advocating for partial hospitalization programs. This could be accomplished by additional research. We also recommend that the client's social functioning is measured when he or she enters and completes the Day Treatment Program. This data would help in determining if there is improved social functioning. Structured post-treatment questionnaires should also be developed so that the clients can provide feedback about the program.

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