Forty-two severely emotionally disturbed adolescents discharged after a
brief hospitalization for an acute psychiatric episode were assigned to two
groups--one for whom clinicians recommended continued intensive treatment
in an inpatient, residential, or day treatment setting, even though such
services were not available, and the other for whom clinicians recommended
only outpatient treatment. The two groups were compared on rates of
rehospitalization, self-harmful actions, and suicide attempts and on
severity of problems with peers during the six months after discharge. The
two groups showed significant differences only in the extent of their
problems with peers.
Abstract Teaser