Establishing adolescent and young adult therapy programs

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Mental Health Services
• Adolescent and Young Adult Treatment

Background:

• Increasing demand for adolescent and young adult psychiatric treatment.
• Establishment of a specialized therapy service at Perth Clinic in 1999.
• Multidisciplinary team developed a comprehensive program.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and initial 6-month operation of a new therapy service for adolescents and young adults.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of inpatient and outpatient group therapy streams.
• To assess patient and parent satisfaction with the psychiatric intervention.

Main Methods:

• Development of two therapy streams: inpatient (daily open group) and outpatient (twice-weekly closed group).
• Programs designed for 8-week periods with a maximum of eight participants.
• Outcomes measured using clinical questionnaires for mood changes and satisfaction surveys.

Main Results:

• The program demonstrated high attendance rates.
• Early indicators suggest effective intervention with good prognostic data.
• Objective mood change measurements and satisfaction data were collected.

Conclusions:

• The new therapy service at Perth Clinic shows promise as an effective intervention for adolescent and young adult psychiatric disorders.
• The structured group therapy approach appears beneficial.
• Further evaluation is supported by positive initial outcomes and patient feedback.