Longitudinal evaluation of outcomes for youth with serious emotional disturbance during two years of Children’s Psychosocial Rehabilitation

Abstract

This study assessed the course, rate, and significance of change in participants’ day-to-day functioning during two years of Children’s Psychosocial Rehabilitation (CPSR). Hierarchical linear mixed models were used to analyze Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) outcome data for 49 youth with serious emotional disturbance, aged 7 to 17 years. The authors estimated participants’ change trajectory, difference in initial versus 16-month status, and difference in rate of change between the first 12 and last 8 months of the study. Controlling for age, participants improved by 13.73 points on the CAFAS every four months, generating a statistically and clinically significant improvement from intake to 16 months. The rate of change decreased significantly to 1.37 points per wave during the last 8 months of the study. CPSR participants improve significantly during treatment, with the majority of changes occurring in the first year.