title: Predictors of rate of change for children and youth with emotional disorders: a naturalistic observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To examine demographic and clinical characteristics as potential predictors of change for children and youth with emotional disorders treated at two child and adolescent mental health outpatient services (CAMHS) in Norway.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was of naturalistic observational type with "treatment as usual" (TAU). The sample consisted of 84 children and youth with emotional disorders. The Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HONOSCA), and the Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) were administered at intake (T0), during the assessment (T1) and approximately six months after assessment (T2). Change was analysed by means of the linear mixed models procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the HONOSCA total score, youths with a diagnosis of depression had statistically higher symptom severity levels at baseline and significantly lower change rates as compared to youths with an anxiety disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study adds to the limited knowledge of predictors of rate of change for children and adolescents with emotional disorders treated within CAMHS. Our results point to a special need to improve clinical care for depressed children and adolescents. Important limitations comprising the external validity of the study concern missing data, a small study sample, and lack of information regarding the content and extent of the service provided.
authors.affiliation: Research Group For Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway ; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Divisions of Child and Adolescent Health, University Hospital of North-Norway, P.O. Box 19, 9038 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Toril Sørheim
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Nilsen
authors.affiliation: Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Bjørn Helge
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Handegård
authors.affiliation: Research Group For Mental Ehealth, Department of psychology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eisemann
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Divisions of Child and Adolescent Health, University Hospital of North-Norway, P.O. Box 19, 9038 Tromsø, Norway ; Research Group of Pediatrics, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Siv
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kvernmo
keywords: Anxiety; Children; Depression; Emotional disorders; Outpatient; Predictors; Treatment outcome