The effect of diagnosis and educational level on therapists' treatment decisions in a regional psychiatric outpatient clinic.

The aim of this study was to investigate a random sample of psychiatric patients referred for treatment at a psychiatric out-patient unit with the purpose of evaluating their demographic structure, epidemiological data, therapist's decision-making process and the interaction between these factors. Positive correlations were found between diagnosis and variables connected to therapeutic decisions. Variables associated with therapeutic decision were found to be influenced by diagnosis at intake as well as by educational status of the patient. Other findings and possible explanations for correlations observed are presented.