title: The effect of waiting time on youth engagement to evidence based treatments.
abstract: Prolonged waiting times to receive mental health services are common and may have negative consequences. This study examines the relationship between waiting time and treatment engagement among 2,054 youth referred to an evidence based treatment (EBT). Findings indicate that families are more likely to refuse services if they face longer waiting times. Families exposed to a prolonged waiting time were also more likely to drop out prematurely from Functional Family Therapy, but this relationship was not significant among youth receiving Multisystemic Therapy. Implications for EBT implementation and strategies for engaging families are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 737 West Lombard Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA, aw10@umbc.edu.
authors.forename: Anna M L
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Westin
authors.forename: Crystal L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Barksdale
authors.forename: Sharon H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Stephan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D009042:Motivation; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology; D011613:Psychotherapy; D013598:Systems Theory; D014850:Waiting Lists