New Compass Health Center Study Finds Brief Partial Hospitalization Significantly Reduces Depression and Anxiety in Adults
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NORTHBROOK, IL — FEBRUARY 3, 2026 — A newly published study in the Behavior Therapist Journal led by Compass Health Center clinicians and research partners shows that a brief Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) can lead to meaningful reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms for adults, within just three weeks of treatment.
The study, Effectiveness of Brief Partial Hospitalization for Depression and Anxiety, followed more than 800 adults receiving care in Compass Health Center’s mood and anxiety PHP between January 2024 and May 2025. Participants experienced large, clinically significant improvements in both anxiety and depressive symptoms by the time they completed treatment, with average symptom levels shifting from the moderate-to-severe range into the mild range. The findings reflect outcomes from evidence-based, specialized care across Compass Health Center’s multistate treatment network.
“When I received my clinical training, there wasn’t a standard of practice or guidelines about Partial Hospitalization. No guidance based on outcomes to answer straightforward questions: Does this type of program work? How long would I need to participate? Clinically, when should I refer to someone?” said Paul Mueller, MSW, President, Compass Health Center. “Being a part of Compass and the effort to answer these questions directly and objectively with data is meaningful to our patients and families, and is a powerful tool in the work we do. This also allows us to contribute to the field and help the individuals in front of us and those who can be helped here in the future.”
Key Findings
- Anxiety symptoms (measured by the GAD-7) decreased from an average score of 13.6 (moderate) at admission to 7.9 (mild) at discharge.
- Depression symptoms (measured by the PHQ-9) decreased from an average score of 15.8 (moderately severe) to 8.9 (mild).
- Most participants achieved meaningful symptom reduction in approximately 17–18 treatment days.
- Improvements were observed across diagnostic categories, including individuals with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder.
“As someone in a leadership role for years, I’ve had to hire many clinicians for higher levels of care. It continues to amaze me how little therapists, even experienced therapists, know about PHP and IOP levels of care,” said Joseph Serio, MSED, co-author and Chief Clinical Quality & Compliance Officer at Compass Health Center. “By publishing this article focusing on these levels of care, it increases visibility about PHP and IOP for professionals, which in turn will lead to more clinicians seeking out employment at this level of care.”
What Is Partial Hospitalization?
Partial Hospitalization Programs provide several hours of multi-disciplinary treatment per day, five days per week, while allowing participants to return home each evening. At Compass Health Center, the mood and anxiety PHP integrates:
- Group therapy using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills
- Individual therapy
- Psychiatric care and medication management
- Optional family or couples sessions
- Structured daily programming and discharge planning
This model supports symptom stabilization, skill-building, and improved functioning without requiring inpatient hospitalization.
Why This Study Matters
Depression and anxiety remain among the leading causes of disability worldwide. While more people are seeking mental health care, overall levels of psychological distress have not declined, suggesting that many individuals may need more intensive or targeted support than traditional weekly therapy provides.
“What stands out in these findings is the significant symptom improvement achieved in a relatively short period of time,” said Claudia P. Welke, MD, Co-Founder and Medical Director at Compass Health Center and co-author of the study. “Seeing patients move, on average, from moderate or moderately severe symptoms into the mild range underscores the clinical power that can be achieved during an admission to an evidence-based partial hospitalization program.”
The research also found that baseline symptom severity, rather than diagnosis type, was the strongest predictor of discharge outcomes. This suggests that PHPs effectively address shared emotional and behavioral patterns across mood and anxiety disorders, such as avoidance, emotional dysregulation, and negative thinking.
Study Overview
- Participants: 819 adults
- Average age: 38
- Common diagnoses: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
- Average length of stay: 17.6 treatment days
- Measures used: GAD-7 (anxiety), PHQ-9 (depression)
Participants received group-based, skills-focused therapy alongside individual sessions and psychiatric care in a comprehensive treatment setting.
Looking Ahead
While the study demonstrated strong short-term outcomes, the authors note that future research should explore long-term symptom maintenance, which components of PHP are most impactful, and optimal lengths of stay. Still, the findings add to growing evidence that intermediate levels of care, such as partial hospitalization, can play an integral role in helping adults regain stability and functioning.
About Compass Health Center
Compass Health Center is a leading provider of evidence-based mental health treatment for children, adolescents, young adults, and adults. With locations across multiple states and virtual care options, Compass offers an intermediate level of care, including Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP). Compass Health Center specializes in treating mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, obsessive-compulsive disorder, school refusal, and co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns.
Media Contact
Brittney Teasdale
Associate Director, Brand Management
216-926-0550
bteasdale@compasshealthcenter.net
