Psychological Aspects of Data Loss in Outcome Research

Abstract

Data loss is a plague in outcome studies, particularly for research strategies using significant others to rate home and community adjustment of clients in treatment. This study asked, "Do psychological factors contribute to data loss?" for 169 consecutively admitted psychiatric clients who differed in outcome response rates. Clients who evidenced less favorable pretreatment adjustment on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and on psychiatrists' Brief Psychiatric Rating Scales ratings also turned out to be those for whom posttreatment outcome return rates were poorest. The findings suggest data loss is systematic: Clients who are less well-adjusted may be underrepresented in program evaluation.