Program Retention: An Exploratory Analysis of Patient Characteristics in a First Episode Psychosis Program
Poster A81, Monday, October%208, 11:30%20am%20-%201:00%20pm, Essex%20Ballroom
Kristen Ratliff1, Michael Francis1,2, Megan Gaunnac2, Jenifer Vohs2, Bethany Leonhardt1,2, Ashley Overley1,2, Nicole Mehdiyoun2, Emily Liffick1, O'Neal Shyne2, Kelsey Huling2, Alan Breier1,2; 1Prevention and Recovery Center for Early Psychosis - Eskenazi Health, 2Indiana University School of Medicine - Psychotic Disorders Program
Background: Treatment program retention and service engagement are clinical challenges of mental health treatment. Adolescent and young adults are at high risk for service disengagement, including those enrolled in first episode treatment programs with rates ranging from 20.5 – 40%. Exploring patient characteristics of individuals that are retained in treatment for an extended amount of time (>12 months) can help to provide insight into points of intervention for treatment providers. Methods: Since the development of the coordinated specialty care program (CSC) at the Prevention and Recovery Center (PARC) for early psychosis, a first-episode psychosis (FEP) treatment program, 171 individuals were enrolled between December 2014 and August 2017. Baseline characteristics such as patient demographics, duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), family involvement, symptom severity, social and occupational functioning, substance use, previous treatment engagement, and subjective recovery were collected at enrollment. Patients were also assessed at quarterly intervals utilizing the same measures in addition to assessing patient engagement in treatment services. Patients were considered disengaged and closed out after 90 days of no contact unless the patient was transferred to another program, moved or collaboratively decided on closure with treatment team. Results: Initial analyses indicate that the PARC CSC program had approximately 70% of clients retained in treatment for more than 6 months and without a gap in service more than 60 days. It appears that disengagement occurs more frequently within the first 6 months of treatment. Further analyses will explore patient characteristics of those who disengage in the first 6 months compare to those that have been engaged more than 12 months. Conclusion: Results indicate that program retention and treatment engagement rates for the CSC PARC program are above rates in the literature (46.5%). Analysis of patient characteristics and profiles will be conducted to identify predictors of retention and engagement. Interventions to enhance engagement as well as future directions for program development will be discussed.
Topic Area: First Episode Psychosis