title: Outcome following child psychiatric hospitalization.
abstract: Admission, discharge, and follow-up evaluations of 110 children admitted to a child psychiatric unit (mean 14 days) showed that the children's psychological functioning improved significantly during hospitalization. Gains were not fully maintained at follow-up (1 and 6 months), but the children were still significantly less impaired after discharge than at admission. A nonsignificant difference existed between follow-up scores, indicating no loss of progress or decline in functioning from 1- to 6-month follow-up. The results are consistent with an ABA (A = no inpatient intervention, B = inpatient intervention, A = no inpatient intervention) treatment effect. They are not explained by removal from and return to an unsatisfactory home environment. Psychological functioning after admission was significantly better than after 1 to 6 months of post-discharge psychiatric services. This study offers a clinically feasible approach to evidence-based practice by documenting patient improvement during and after inpatient treatment using a simple, empirically supported assessment instrument.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, P.O. Box 850, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Mayes
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Calhoun
authors.forename: V F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Krecko
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Vesell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome