Multisystemic therapy versus hospitalization for crisis stabilization of youth: placement outcomes 4 months postreferral.
Hospitalization and out-of-home placement data for 113 youth participating in a randomized trial comparing home-based multisystemic therapy (MST; n = 57) with hospitalization (n = 56) for psychiatric crisis stabilization were analyzed following the completion of MST treatment--approximately 4 months post approval for emergency psychiatric hospitalization. Analyses showed that MST prevented any hospitalization for 57% of the participants in the MST condition and reduced the overall number of days hospitalized by 72%. Importantly, the reduction in use and length of hospitalization was not offset by increased use of other placement options, as MST reduced days in other out-of-home placements by 49%. The cost implications for the viability of MST as an alternative to hospitalization for youth presenting psychiatric emergencies are discussed.
Family Services Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA.
S K
SK
Schoenwald
D M
DM
Ward
S W
SW
Henggeler
M D
MD
Rowland
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008884:Milieu Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012114:Residential Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D013022:South Carolina; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000092864:Suicide Prevention