The Effectiveness of Client Feedback Measures with Adolescents in an Acute Psychiatric Inpatient Setting

Abstract

There is a growing need for the measurement of therapeutic outcomes and the therapeutic alliance in inpatient mental health services with the adolescent population. This dissertation extends the literature on the use of client feedback measures with adolescents by investigating the use of the Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) and the Session Rating Scale (SRS) during individual therapy sessions during inpatient psychiatric treatment. The change in the severity of symptoms was measured through the use of the ORS and the Youth Outcome Questionnaire (Y-OQ) at admission and discharge with both adolescents and their parent/guardian. The SRS was also administered to measure clients' perceptions of the alliance during treatment. This study provides preliminary data for the ORS and SRS measures with adolescents, which is significant because all previous research with these forms has focused on adult participants. A total of 120 participants completed the study. Participants in this study were adolescents (ages 12-17) in an inpatient psychiatric hospital receiving mental health services and the guardians/parents of each youth. All youth completed the ORS and Youth Outcome Questionnaire (Y-OQ SR) at admission and discharge; each completed the SRS at discharge. All parents/guardians also completed the ORS and Y-OQ at admission and discharge. Youth assigned to the experimental group were administered by the therapists the ORS at the beginning of each individual session and the SRS at the end of each individual therapy session. Youth in the control group received treatment as usual. Results demonstrated an improvement in overall functioning from admission to discharge for youth in both groups. Parents of youth in the experimental group indicated statistically significant reduction in the severity of symptoms on the Y-OQ from admission to discharge. SRS ratings were also found to be significantly different, indicating that the youth that used the client feedback measures during individual therapy sessions felt more heard, understood, and respected. Additional research is needed to replicate and extend this study with adolescents in inpatient psychiatric hospitals and other settings. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone [phone]. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]