Outcome following child psychiatric hospitalization

Admission, discharge, and follow-up evaluations of I IO children admitted t o a child psychiatric unit (mean 14 days) showed that the children's psycho logical functioning improved significantly during hospitalization. Gains we re not fully maintained at follow-up (1 and 6 months), but the children wer e still significantly less impaired after discharge than at admission. A no nsignificant difference existed between follow-rep scores, indicating no lo ss 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 = inpa tient intervention, A = no inpatient intervention) treatment effect They ar e not explained by removal from and return to an unsatisfactory home enviro nment. Psychological functioning after admission was significantly better t han after 1 to 6 months of post-discharge psychiatric services. This study offers a clinically feasible approach to evidence-based practice by documen ting patient improvement during and after inpatient treatment using a simpl e, empirically supported assessment instrument.