Date of Submission

2008

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

Department Chair

Robert A. DiTomasso, Ph.D., ABPP

First Advisor

Robert A. DiTomasso, Ph.D., ABPP, Chairperson

Second Advisor

Barbara Golden, Psy.D., ABPP

Third Advisor

Virginia Salzer, Ph.D.

Abstract

The impact of changes in New Jersey civil commitment laws on admission patterns at a New Jersey state psychiatric hospital was studied using an interrupted time series design. The target years were 1965, 1988, 1994, and 1998, years when significant changes in the commitment law took effect. The data studied were the total number of admissions per month. There were no significant changes in admission trends at any of the target dates. Possible reasons for these findings are discussed.

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