Adult Mental Health Treatment Planning and Outcome

Adult mental health treatment planning is an intricate part of treating an individual diagnosed with a mental health illness. The success of these plans is measured by their outcomes. How the treatment plans are developed and executed is usually regulated at the state and federal levels.

Treatment planning

• Adult mental health treatment plans are a comprehensive course of treatment that is carefully planned out in five to seven pages. Most individuals entering an outpatient treatment facility have a co-occurring disorder such as chemical dependency and this issue needs to be addressed in their treatment plan.

  An adult mental health treatment plan will have target areas that need to be addressed that may consist of legal, family, social and spiritual, housing, educational and vocational goals. It will also contain the mental health diagnosis itself.

  It is protocol to have the adult patient participate in the treatment plan so that they are able to voice what areas they want to improve on and so they are aware of the expectations of the mental health program.

  A treatment plan also has target dates that are set forth usually by the Office Of Mental Health or OMH. Target dates are the dates that are set for the individual to achieve certain goals. Most target dates are revisited every 30, 90 and 120 days.

Outcomes

• Treatment planning outcomes are based on the goals initiated between the clinician and the patient. The outcomes are based on an individual's level of compliance and commitment to his program. The outcomes also need to be realistic, obtainable goals that do not set the person up for failure.

  Adult treatment plans are considered a legal document and should be treated as such. They should be completed by a skilled clinician who has a vested interest in the care of the individual.