Predicting outcome in a multimodal day treatment program for children with severe behaviour problems

The demand for day treatment programs for children with severe behaviour problems has greatly increased in the past decade. The objective of this study is to identify characteristics of children who benefit most from such a program. The sample consisted of 63 children, aged five to 13, assessed at admission and discharge from the program. Outcome measures included behavioural improvement and school reintegration. At admission, multivariate analyses revealed that children who made the greatest behavioural improvements had less severe behaviour problems, lower IQ scores and more disturbed family functioning. Children reintegrated into regular classes after discharge were younger at admission, had better reading skills, no attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and little parental marital discord. Findings suggest that successful outcome can be predicted from characteristics of children at intake. A multimodal approach is needed to address the different problems areas in a child's life.