Surveys Increase Suicide, Substance Detection

PacifiCare has enrolled more than 140,000 members who are receiving outpatient behavioral health care in the questionnaire program. Members work with therapists to fill out the questionnaire several times during the course of their treatment.

So far, use of the questionnaire has helped therapists improve detection of substance abuse by 17% and detection of suicide risk by 35%, Jones said, according to a written summary of his remarks.

PacifiCare also found that about 66% of the individuals who enter treatment functionally impaired are productive again after 9 weeks of therapy, Jones said.

Other questionnaire program figures suggest that some therapists are much more effective than other therapists, Jones said.