Client variables affecting treatment outcomes in an outpatient mental health program in Sacramento County, California

This study provides some of the first outcome data for the Transitional Community Opportunities for Recovery and Engagement (TCORE) program in Sacramento County, California. TCORE was one of five new programs implemented in Sacramento County as a result of additional funding provided by the Mental Health Services Act of 2004, which was designed to improve existing mental health programs in California. The present study examined the relationships between client demographic variables and treatment outcomes to determine whether client variables were related to and/or predicted treatment outcome. Demographic and treatment outcome data (positive, negative, or other) were collected for all clients discharged from the TCORE program from its inception in July 2007 to May 2010 (n= 538). Demographic variables include age, gender, ethnicity, language, and diagnosis. Results of the statistical analyses revealed that only one demographic variable was correlated with treatment outcome. Clients whose primary language was not English had more positive treatment outcomes than expected. Analyses also revealed that client variables were predictors of treatment outcome and accounted for 9.7% of the variance in treatment outcomes. Although none of the predictor variables were predictive of negative treatment outcomes, gender was a statistically significant predictor of positive outcome. Female clients were 1.64 times more likely to experience a positive treatment outcome. Post hoc analyses revealed that the variable of substance abuse was also predictive of treatment outcomes. Specifically, clients with substance abuse issues were less likely to have positive treatment outcomes. Among the strengths of this study is its large sample, in which most ethnic minority populations in Sacramento County were well represented. The results of this study indicate that the TCORE program is effectively providing services to a diverse population of adults. Nearly half of the sample (43.8%) had positive treatment outcomes. The results of the current study have important implications within the field of community mental health. Although results of outcome studies are difficult to generalize across different programs, the findings of this study provide support for the TCORE model in its effectiveess in providing culturally competent mental health services to a diverse population of patients. With funding for community mental health programs facing budget cuts every year, the need for research into effective outpatient programs, such as TCORE, becomes more important and the current study adds to this field of research.