Adolescent Partial Hospitalization: Some Preliminary Outcome Data

Abstract

Partial hospitalization has developed as an important treatment modality for adults and recently for adolescents. Although several articles have described adolescent partial hospitalization programs, very few have any research supporting their effectiveness. An adolescent partial hospitalization program is described and evaluated using four outcome measures obtained both at admission and discharge from the program. Significant improvement occurred for all variables: the Child and Adolescent Behavior Problem Checklist completed (a) by patients and (b) by parents, (c) the Assessment of Current Functioning Scale (therapist ratings), and (d) Goal Attainment Scaling. These preliminary data support adolescent partial hospitalization as a treatment modality worthy of further application and research.