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.
Schoenwald
S K
SK
Family Services Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA.
Ward
D M
DM
Henggeler
S W
SW
Rowland
M D
MD
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