Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Schizophrenia Mental Project Begins

Southwest Arkansas Counseling and Menthal Health Center is one of 16 mental health care facilities to voluntarily take part in a statewide project to determine the most effective treatments for Arkansas' patients with depression or schizophrenia.

The project, conducted by the Centers for Mental Health Research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, will examine the outcomes of patients in crisis treated at community mental health centers and at the Arkansas State Hospital, James A. Clardy, M.D., a UAMS assistant professor of psychiatry and a Howard County native who is serving as project implementation director, said.

Depression and schizophrenia are two of the most common mental illnesses for which people seek treatment.

Not long ago, such patients in Arkansas were typically referred to the Arkansas State Hospital residential treatment. But in recent years, the state has been diverting such patients to facilities in the patient's own community whenever possible, to avoid overcrowding the state hospital, reduce costs and keep the patient close to home.

The two modules being used in the project were developed by UAMS' centers for mental health care research under the direction of Richard Smith, M.D., who is also vice chairman of UAMS' department of psychiatry.

Each of the modules, one targeting depression and one for schizophrenia, was specifically tailored for this project under the guidance of Brenda Booth, Ph.D., project director.

First, the patients were interviewed to obtain a baseline evaluation before treatment. Then the patients were questioned again after treatment to ascertain the patients' progress.

The survey not only measures psychiatric symptoms but also takes into account how well the patients are meeting their own basic needs and functioning in society; for example, whether the patient is employed and self-supporting, also adequate housing and enjoys a satisfactory quality of life.

Factors that could affect patient outcomes in certain parts of the state also are taken into consideration. For instance, in some areas, the typical patient may be older than in other parts of the state. As Clardy said, older patients may not respond as quickly or completely to a treatment, and so age must be considered in assessing the effectiveness of the treatment.

UAMS psychiatrists are currently evaluating the results of the survey and compiling them into a written report to be provided to the division of Mental Health Services and HCFA and used as a tool for decision-makers.

The findings could influence policy regarding future treatment for patients in Arkansas and beyond. The project could also serve as a model for similar studies in other states. In fact, UAMS psychiatrists are sharing their methods with their peers in technical assistance workshops for the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.

Clardy is quick to praise the community mental health centers that are participating in the study.

"These centers voluntarily offered their time and resources to help get patients involved in this project," he said. "They deserve a lot of credit."