Measurement-based care in an adolescent partial hospitalization program: Exploring treatment progress and predictors...

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Mental Health Services Research

Background:

• Partial hospitalization programs (PHP) are intensive treatments for adolescents with significant mental health concerns.
• Measurement-based care (MBC) integrates patient-reported outcomes into treatment planning and monitoring.
• Understanding treatment trajectories and factors influencing improvement is crucial for optimizing adolescent mental healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine patient improvement and change trajectories during treatment in an adolescent PHP using MBC.
• To explore variations in youth treatment trajectories based on demographics, symptom severity, and diagnosis.
• To assess the utility of the Top Problems Assessment (TPA) alongside standardized symptom measures.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 124 adolescents (aged 13-18) with anxiety and depression diagnoses in a PHP were studied.
• Weekly administration of the idiographic Top Problems Assessment (TPA) and standardized anxiety/depression questionnaires.
• Analysis of treatment outcomes and trajectories, examining associations with baseline variables.

Main Results:

• Adolescents demonstrated significant improvement across all outcome measures during PHP treatment.
• The rate of improvement on the TPA slowed over time, unlike standardized symptom measures.
• Higher baseline anxiety severity and anxiety disorder diagnosis were linked to slower TPA improvement.

Conclusions:

• Adolescents benefit from PHP treatment, with youth-reported problems showing rapid initial improvement.
• Treatment modifications or closer monitoring may be beneficial for high-anxiety youth admitted to PHP.
• Integrating MBC and personalized assessments in PHP can identify which youth benefit most and under what conditions.