The 'one-contact' case.

As a clearing house for a variety of mental and emotional problems a psychiatric outpatient clinic necessarily receives for singleinterview study and consultation many individuals whose needs do not properly come within the scope of its continued services. Undoubtedly this would always be true of a specialized clinic. Yet in its reports to referring agencies and physicians on those cases not acceptable for continued treatment, it has been able to make recommendations regarding institutional care, to confirm diagnoses, or to suggest possible avenues of further study. This survey of one-contact cases over the years 1930-1935 shows the wide community use of the facilities which a psychiatric outpatient clinic has to offer. The greater use of the psychiatric clinic for patients needing continued psychotherapy will be presented in later studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]