title: Evaluating the outcomes of adolescent day programs in an Australian child and adolescent mental health service.
abstract: Adolescent day programs (ADPs) are an increasingly used approach to treating adolescents with mental health issues. However, there is a dearth of studies empirically examining the outcomes of adolescent day programs. This study retrospectively examined the mental health functioning of 84 adolescents, pre- and post-treatment, who in addition to their ongoing outpatient treatment had participated in an ADP during a five-year period. Their functioning was compared to matched adolescents who participated only in outpatient treatment during the same time period. Statistical and clinical examinations revealed the reported outcomes following ADP treatment were at least comparable, and sometimes significantly better, when compared to the reported outcomes following outpatient treatment excluding ADP involvement. This study, while having some methodological shortcomings, provides some evidence for the efficacy of ADPs.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kennair
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mellor
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D002648:Child; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D006801:Humans; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014739:Victoria