Associations between patient characteristics and ratings of treatment milieu

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate associations between patients ratings of their treatment milieu and personal characteristics such as gender, age, educational level, personality disorders, symptom distress, interpersonal problems, global level of functioning, as well as treatment outcome. Data was taken from 908 patients (with mainly personality, mood and anxiety disorders) consecutively admitted to eight day-treatment units. Treatment milieu was measured by Ward Atmosphere Scale for Therapeutic Programs (WAS-TP). Overall level of psychosocial functioning was measured by Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). Diagnoses and personality traits was measured by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders (SCID-II), according to DSM-IV. Symptom distress and interpersonal problems was measured by Symptom Checklist 90-R and the Circumplex of Interpersonal Problems, respectively. No substantial associations were found between individual personal characteristics and ratings of the treatment milieu, and no substantial associations were found between ratings of the treatment milieu and treatment outcome or the likelihood of treatment completion. There seems to be no support as to making general inferences about or from individual ratings of the treatment milieu. Possible uses of individual evaluations of treatment milieu are discussed.

• Day hospitals
• Personality disorders
• Treatment milieu
• Validity
• Ward atmosphere