Predicting outcomes among adolescents with disruptive disorders being treated in a system of care program.
BACKGROUND
"Systems of care" are strengths-based approaches to treating adolescents and others with disruptive disorders. However, little is known about why some adolescents improve and others do not.


OBJECTIVE
To examine changes in personal strengths and family functioning as predictors of behavioral and social functioning among adolescents with disruptive disorders who participated in a system of care program.


METHODS
Secondary analyses of data from 114 adolescents (12-17 years of age) with disruptive disorders and their caregivers who participated in the Dawn Project Evaluation Study. Caregivers completed in-depth interviews conducted by trained data collectors using standardized questionnaires. Baseline and 12- month data are reported here.


RESULTS
Improvement in personal strengths was a significant predictor of improvement in adolescent behavioral and social functioning, controlling for demographics (p < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
In adolescents with disruptive disorders, psychiatric nurses should focus on enhancing adolescents' personal strengths to improve behavioral and social functioning.
Ukamaka M. Oruche, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Ukamaka M
UM
Oruche
Janis E
JE
Gerkensmeyer
Janet S
JS
Carpenter
Joan K
JK
Austin
Susan M
SM
Perkins
Susan M
SM
Rawl
Eric R
ER
Wright
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
adolescents/adolescence; chronic mental illness; community mental health services; families of the mentally ill; service delivery systems