RT Journal
A1 Burgoyne RW, Staples FR, Yamamoto J, Wolkon GH, Kline F
T1 PAtients' requests of an outpatient clinic
JF Archives of General Psychiatry
JO Archives of General Psychiatry
YR 1979
FD April 1
VO 36
IS 4
SP 400
OP 403
DO 10.1001/archpsyc.1979.01780040042004
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1979.01780040042004
AB Three-hundred-twenty-five consecutive predominantly lowerclass new patients at a psychiatric outpatient clinic rated the importance they attached to each of 14 categories of treatment needs or requests. Psychiatric residents subsequently rated the importance of each request for each patient at the conclusion of their initial assessment interview. Requests reflecting needs for intrapsychic therapy, clarification, and control of feelings were considered very important by approximately two thirds of the patients; needs for institutionalized contact, advice, and community triage by one half; and other requests for medication, reality contact, succorance, ventilation, confession, social intervention, administrative requests by a minority (one fourth to one third). Residents significantly underestimated the importance their patients attached to 10 of 14 requests. Factor analyses confirmed several systematic sources of disparity between patient and therapist perception of lower-class patient needs.