Families who have struggled for
years with the heartache of finding appropriate help for their troubled
teen may find new hope in the results of a just-released study about
adolescent treatment options.
According to the study, most teens with serious behavioral or emotional
problems that have not responded to other treatments -- such as individual
or group therapy, medications and psychiatric hospitalization -- improve
during treatment at a private residential treatment program.
The majority of adolescents were treated for multiple problems (85.5
percent), including disruptive behavior disorders (44 percent), substance
use disorders (36 percent), and mood disorder (31 percent). Results showed
that teens attending licensed private residential treatment programs
experienced significant improvements in all psychological and behavioral
problems studied.
"In the initial findings of this multiphase study, teens whose
emotional and behavioral functioning was previously described by their
parents as 'clinically' impaired when they began residential treatment, was
later described as 'normal' after treatment," said Dr. Ellen Behrens, lead
researcher at Canyon Research & Consulting, Salt Lake City, Utah, which
conducted the study. "Perhaps even more importantly, the teens themselves
later rated their own emotional and behavioral problems in 'normal' ranges
after treatment."
The findings, presented on August 12 at the American Psychological
Association, the largest association of psychologists worldwide, are the
first part of the nation's first large-scale study of private residential
treatment programs for adolescents.
"The findings are significant in that both the parents and the students
reported tremendous improvement in their communications and personal family
dynamics by the time of discharge from the treatment program," added Dr.
Behrens. "In addition, both groups felt that student behaviors prior to
treatment, including aggressiveness, withdrawal and rule breaking, had been
diminished to 'normal' levels. This indicates that these changes were not
only statistically significant but clinically meaningful to the family."
"Until now, our industry has relied on anecdotal evidence and
individual success stories to substantiate the outstanding work that has
been done by high-quality, private residential treatment programs
throughout the United States," said Jan Moss, executive director of the
National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, a national
organization representing programs and professionals assisting young people
with emotional and behavioral difficulties. "This research demonstrates
what we've always believed -- that research-driven and evidence-based
private residential programs can help turnaround teens in trouble. This
information will give new hope to thousands of families who have been
struggling with the difficult decision of how to best help a child."
The multiphase study was designed to determine to what degree students
change over the course of treatment at a private residential treatment
program and to determine to what degree students maintain these changes
after discharge from the program, as measured in three-, six- and 12-month
post-discharge intervals. The current results represent the first phase of
the study. The final phase of post-discharge symptom measurement will be
completed in summer 2006 with results available by first quarter 2007.
"We are pleased with the positive outcomes made by students at private
residential treatment programs upon discharge," noted NATSAP's Moss. "We
look forward to the release of data from the next phase of the study, which
will focus on how well participants maintained their positive gains one
year after discharge."
The current study group consisted of 992 male and female adolescents,
ages 13 to 18, admitted to treatment during a two-year period (August
2003-2005). Both the parents and the adolescents were surveyed at the time
of the student's admission to the residential treatment program and at the
time of discharge.
Private adolescent residential treatment programs are defined as
boarding schools or programs that provide a highly structured environment,
an academic component, and group and individual therapy. These programs
typically are paid for by the families of attending students and generally
last for three to 18 months.
Canyon Research & Consulting ( canyonrc ) is a privately owned
company comprised of a team of psychologists and researchers who provide
outcome research services to mental health programs and providers.
The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs represents
more than 165 programs and professionals assisting young people with
emotional and behavioral difficulties. According to NATSAP, parents
considering placement of a child at a private residential treatment program
should look for licensed and accredited facilities with a longstanding
record of safety and a licensed and qualified staff of therapists, teachers
and administrators. For more information, visit natsap.
National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs
canyonrc