Evaluating Adolescent Patient Outcomes and Staff Member Injuries at a General Psychiatric Inpatient Unit.

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Behavioral Health Services
• Inpatient Psychiatry

Background:

• Short-term pediatric psychiatric hospitalization manages acute behaviors.
• Limited data exists on clinical models and outcomes for these units.
• Understanding patient and staff experiences is crucial for care improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a brief inpatient psychiatric model for adolescents.
• To evaluate patient behavioral health outcomes and satisfaction.
• To assess staff safety and identify contributing factors.

Main Methods:

• Implemented a group therapy model based on dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
• Assessed patient depression, anxiety, and anger at discharge.
• Collected data on patient satisfaction and staff injuries.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements observed in adolescent depression, anxiety, and anger.
• Patients reported high satisfaction with services.
• High rates of staff injuries were noted, correlated with staffing ratios and time of day.

Conclusions:

• Brief inpatient psychiatric programs can be effective for adolescents.
• Staff safety is a critical issue requiring further attention.
• Findings suggest areas for improving clinical care and staff well-being in pediatric psychiatric units.