Systematic Review: Patient Outcomes in Transdiagnostic Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Programs

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) offer an alternative to inpatient care for acute mental health issues.
• PHPs aim to stabilize adolescents with high-risk behaviors, including suicidality and self-harm.
• The effectiveness of PHPs for transdiagnostic adolescent populations remains largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the evidence on the impact of PHPs on adolescent mental health symptoms.
• To assess the effects of PHPs on adolescent functioning.
• To identify gaps in the research regarding PHP efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines.
• Inclusion of peer-reviewed evaluations of PHPs for adolescents published since 2000.
• Focus on studies reporting quantitative clinical outcomes.

Main Results:

• Fifteen studies from 10 PHPs across four continents were included.
• All studies reported improvements in adolescent functioning and mental health from admission to discharge.
• Limited evidence exists for comparative effectiveness or long-term outcomes; Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) shows potential.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence suggests adolescents improve in PHPs, but comparative effectiveness data is scarce.
• Controlled studies with follow-up are necessary to establish PHP efficacy.
• Further research should examine treatment gains' persistence post-discharge.