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Studies of the effectiveness of day treatment programs for children
1Department of Child Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
Insights
Day treatment programs offer intensive therapy for children unresponsive to outpatient care. These programs are cost-effective and maintain family and community connections, avoiding child dependence.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Behavioral Health Services
- Pediatric Psychology
Background:
- Children unresponsive to standard outpatient therapy require more intensive interventions.
- Day treatment programs offer a structured therapeutic environment outside of hospitalization.
- These programs aim to preserve family and community integration for pediatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing research on the effectiveness of day treatment programs for children.
- To evaluate the benefits and outcomes associated with pediatric day treatment.
- To identify areas for future research in the efficacy of these therapeutic models.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of studies on day treatment program effectiveness.
- Analysis of findings from various research on child therapeutic interventions.
- Discussion of methodological strengths and limitations in evaluative research.
Main Results:
- Day treatment programs are a viable alternative to hospitalization for children needing intensive care.
- These programs demonstrate cost-effectiveness compared to inpatient services.
- Evidence suggests day treatment preserves crucial social and familial bonds for children.
Conclusions:
- Day treatment programs provide effective, less disruptive, and more economical intensive care for children.
- Further methodologically rigorous research is needed to fully establish the long-term impact of these programs.
- The findings support the continued development and utilization of day treatment models in pediatric mental health.
Abstract:
Day treatment programs for children are based on the need for more intensive therapeutic treatments for children who do not respond to outpatient programs. Day treatment costs less than hospitalization, does not disrupt family, peer or community ties, and do not result in the child's dependence on them. The authors review studies on the effectiveness of day treatment programs. Findings are discussed and methodological questions are raised for future evaluative research.