Outcome following child psychiatric hospitalization

Abstract

Admission, discharge, and follow-up evaluations of 110 children admitted to a child psychiatric unit (mean 14 days) showed that the children's psychological functioning improved significantly during hospitalization. Gains were not fully maintained at follow-up (1 and 6 months), but the children were still significantly less impaired after discharge than at admission. A nonsignificant difference existed between follow-up scores, indicating no loss of progress or decline in functioning from 1- to 6-month follow-up. The results are consistent with an ABA (A = no inpatient intervention, B = inpatient intervention, A = no inpatient intervention) treatment effect. They are not explained by removal from and return to an unsatisfactory home environment. Psychological functioning after admission was significantly better than after 1 to 6 months of post-discharge psychiatric services. This study offers a clinically feasible approach to evidence-based practice by documenting patient improvement during and after inpatient treatment using a simple, empirically supported assessment instrument.

The Premature Demise of Public Child and Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric Beds

“…Research in the last 10 years has addressed who gets hospitalized and when [99][100][101][102], factors related to rehospitalization [103][104][105], predictors of length of stay [106], and outcomes [107,108]. The strongest finding was that "the majority of decisions to hospitalize were supported by the child's level of risk."…”

Assessment of a child mental health inpatient unit

“…The average duration of stay in our inpatient unit was 6.4 days. This is shorter than the 2 to 6 week admissions reported from other similar units [5,6]. Limiting the period was possible because of the general policy of first screening all admissions, rapid decision making on management and active involvement of both medical and nursing staff in the assessment and therapy.…”

An Outcome Evaluation of an Inpatient Crisis Stabilization and Assessment Program for Youth

“…Evidence suggests that a shortened length of stay (LOS) has not reduced the effectiveness of care (Bloom, 2000). One recent study (Mayes, Calhoun, Krecko, Vesell, & Hu, 2001) demonstrated improvements in children's psychological functioning according to standardized assessments after short-term hospitalization (mean 14 days) that were significantly greater than improvements made by a comparison group of children receiving outpatient services for a similar time period. The results of these studies are promising.…”