Predicting Outcomes Among Adolescents With Disruptive Disorders Being Treated in a System of Care Program. (November 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oruche, Ukamaka M.; Gerkensmeyer, Janis E.; Carpenter, Janet S.; Austin, Joan K.; Perkins, Susan M.; Rawl, Susan M.; Wright, Eric R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. Volume 19:Number 6(2013)
• Page Start: 335
• Page End: 344
• Publication Date: 2013-11
• Subjects: adolescents/adolescence -- community mental health services -- families of the mentally ill -- service delivery systems -- chronic mental illness; Psychiatric nursing -- Periodicals; 616.890231
• DOI: 10.1177/1078390313498509
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1078-3903

Abstract

BACKGROUND: "Systems of care" are strengths-based approaches to treating adolescents and others with disruptive disorders. However, little is known about why some adolescents improve and others do not.OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in personal strengths and family functioning as predictors of behavioral and social functioning among adolescents with disruptive disorders who participated in a system of care program.DESIGN: Secondary analyses of data from 114 adolescents (12-17 years of age) with disruptive disorders and their caregivers who participated in the Dawn Project Evaluation Study. Caregivers completed in-depth interviews conducted by trained data collectors using standardized questionnaires. Baseline and 12- month data are reported here.RESULTS: Improvement in personal strengths was a significant predictor of improvement in adolescent behavioral and social functioning, controlling for demographics ( p < .001).CONCLUSION: In adolescents with disruptive disorders, psychiatric nurses should focus on enhancing adolescents' personal strengths to improve behavioral and social functioning.