Dose response in child and adolescent mental health services.
This study examines the dose-response relationship, the correlation between the amount of mental health treatment a child receives (dose) and the outcome (response) in a community setting. Participants were 125 children treated in the Stark County Child and Adolescent Mental Health System. Study methods include multiple outcomes, multiple-dose definitions, longitudinal hierarchical analysis of repeated measures, and instrumental variable estimation to control for possible confounding between outcome and treatment dose. Results show no statistically significant dose response. The results do not support the existence of a dose response for children and adolescents consistent enough to guide clinicians, administrators, or policymakers.
Bickman
Leonard
L
Center for Mental Health Policy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37212, USA. bickman@attglobal.net
Andrade
Ana Regina
AR
Lambert
E Warren
EW
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000191:economics; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000191:economics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States