Community service utilization by youths hospitalized in a state psychiatric facility.
A majority of a cohort of 62 children and adolescents who had been hospitalized in a state psychiatric facility was found to have received less restrictive services such as outpatient mental health services prior to their index admission. Also, a number had been involved with the juvenile justice system and almost two-thirds had been placed out-of-home. Ninety percent had at least one prior psychiatric hospitalization. Just over half of the cohort received case management and individual counseling post release. About a third received family counseling, and a few received other types of services. At least a third were rehospitalized within a year of release. Although 90% of the cohort received some type of service post release, a higher proportion of non service receivers were rehospitalized than service receivers. Even those who received services had a high rate of rehospitalization. These findings raise questions as to the appropriateness of service provision during and following hospitalization.
Solomon
P
P
Section of Mental Health Services, Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
Evans
D
D
Delaney
M A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000145:classification / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000298:Adolescent, Hospitalized; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010343:Patient Admission; D010359:Patient Readmission