Behavioral Predictors of Psychiatric Emergency in a Child Welfare Residential Treatment Center

ABSTRACT

Using a retrospective case-control design, this study compared 42 boys in a residential treatment center who had a psychiatric emergency (defined as being moved from the RTC for temporary treatment in a psychiatric hospital or hospital diversion program) with a matched comparison group to determine which, if any, emotional and behavioral problems predicted psychiatric emergency. For both groups, progress notes written in the two months prior to the emergency were coded for the presence or absence of behavioral problems. Results revealed that boys who were moved due to psychiatric emergency had more problems, different types of problems, and a greater number of serious problems than the matched comparison group selected from the same cottage environment. Findings suggest that the type and number of problems exhibited prior to removal for intensive psychiatric treatment might serve as early warning signs that can lead to preventive interventions.

KEYWORDS:

• Behavioral predictors
• residential treatment
• psychiatric emergency
• preventive interventions