TY - JOUR
T1 - Home-based multisystemic therapy as an alternative to the hospitalization of youths in psychiatric crisis
T2 - Clinical outcomes
AU - Henggeler, Scott W.
AU - Rowland, Melisa D.
AU - Randall, Jeff
AU - Ward, David M.
AU - Pickrel, Susan G.
AU - Cunningham, Phillippe B.
AU - Miller, Stagey L.
AU - Edwards, James
AU - Zealberg, Joseph J.
AU - Hand, Lisa D.
AU - Santos, Alberto
PY - 1999/1/1
Y1 - 1999/1/1
N2 - Objective: The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether multisystemic therapy (MST), modified for use with youths presenting psychiatric emergencies, can serve as a clinically viable alternative to inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. Method: One hundred sixteen children and adolescents approved for emergency psychiatric hospitalization were randomly assigned to home-based MST or inpatient hospitalization. Assessments examining symptomatology, antisocial behavior, self-esteem, family relations, peer relations, school attendance, and consumer satisfaction were conducted at 3 times: within 24 hours of recruitment into the project, shortly after the hospitalized youth was released from the hospital (1-2 weeks after recruitment), and at the completion of MST home-based services (average of 4 months postrecruitment). Results: MST was more effective than emergency hospitalization at decreasing youths' externalizing symptoms and improving their family functioning and school attendance. Hospitalization was more effective than MST at improving youths' self-esteem. Consumer satisfaction scores were higher in the MST condition. Conclusions: The findings support the view that an intensive, well-specified, and empirically supported treatment model, with judicious access to placement, can effectively serve as a family and community-based alternative to the emergency psychiatric hospitalization of children and adolescents.
AB - Objective: The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether multisystemic therapy (MST), modified for use with youths presenting psychiatric emergencies, can serve as a clinically viable alternative to inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. Method: One hundred sixteen children and adolescents approved for emergency psychiatric hospitalization were randomly assigned to home-based MST or inpatient hospitalization. Assessments examining symptomatology, antisocial behavior, self-esteem, family relations, peer relations, school attendance, and consumer satisfaction were conducted at 3 times: within 24 hours of recruitment into the project, shortly after the hospitalized youth was released from the hospital (1-2 weeks after recruitment), and at the completion of MST home-based services (average of 4 months postrecruitment). Results: MST was more effective than emergency hospitalization at decreasing youths' externalizing symptoms and improving their family functioning and school attendance. Hospitalization was more effective than MST at improving youths' self-esteem. Consumer satisfaction scores were higher in the MST condition. Conclusions: The findings support the view that an intensive, well-specified, and empirically supported treatment model, with judicious access to placement, can effectively serve as a family and community-based alternative to the emergency psychiatric hospitalization of children and adolescents.
KW - Crisis
KW - Multisystemmic therapy
KW - Psychiatric hospitalization
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U2 - 10.1097/00004583-199911000-00006
DO - 10.1097/00004583-199911000-00006
M3 - Article
C2 - 10560218
AN - SCOPUS:13044311400
VL - 38
SP - 1331
EP - 1339
JO - Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
JF - Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
SN - 0890-8567
IS - 11
ER -