Clients/patients with a principal diagnosis of affective disorder served in the inpatient, outpatient, and partial care programs of specialty mental health organizations, United States, 1986

Abstract

Of the 1.7 million persons under care on April 1, 1986 in the psychiatric inpatient, outpatient, and partial care programs of specialty mental health organizations nationwide, approximately 365,500 persons, or 22 percent, had a principal diagnosis of affective disorder. The vast majority of these persons, 84 percent, were under care in outpatient programs; 10 percent, in inpatient programs; and 6 percent, in partial care programs. Approximately 833,000, or 21 percent, of the 3.9 million persons admitted during 1986 to these same psychiatric programs had a diagnosis of affective disorder. Fifty-nine percent of persons with affective disorders were admitted to inpatient programs; 37 percent, to outpatient programs; and 4 percent, to partial care programs. Overall, most persons with affective disorders admitted to and under care in each of the three program types were female, white, and between the ages of 25 and 64. Most persons admitted to and under care in inpatient and partial care programs had a history of prior inpatient mental health care, while most persons in outpatient programs had never been treated in an inpatient psychiatric care setting. The principal source of payment used by persons with affective disorders varied by type of program setting. Blue Cross or other commercial insurance was the most common source of payment used by persons within inpatient programs, personal resources were used most often by persons under care in outpatient programs, and some type of public funds was used most often within partial care programs. Most persons with affective disorders were referred to inpatient and outpatient programs by family or friends, or were self-referrals. Most persons in partial care programs with affective disorders were referred to the program by an inpatient, outpatient, or another partial care mental health service. Services received by persons with affective disorders also varied by program setting. In general, drug and individual therapy were the leading types of treatment provided in inpatient programs. Individual therapy was the leading type of treatment provided, followed by drug therapy, in outpatient programs. Within partial care programs, no single type of treatment predominated.