Evaluation of outpatient client progress: time-series telephone interview data.

A cost-efficient information system that allows for the continual monitoring of the verbal reports of mental health outpatient behavior was designed and implemented. Verbal descriptions of patients' problem behaviors were collected during baseline, therapy, and post-therapy periods using a telephone interview procedure. Descriptive data were presented for 25 patients, demonstrating that: (a) adequate baseline measures can be taken to evaluate therapy interventions, (b) there are wide differences among patients' reports as to the change in frequency of problems that occurs, and (c) patients' reported satisfaction with therapeutic services may be inconsistent with their verbal reports of behavioral change.