ABSTRACT Residential treatment is typically reserved for children with the most serious mental health issues. Previous research has identified an association between better family functioning and positive treatment outcomes among children placed into residential care. This study attempted to replicate and expand upon these findings by examining outcomes among 18,046 children and adolescents placed into residential treatment programs in the United States located in the state of Indiana. As predicted, numerous treatment outcomes again were found to be highly associated with the level of the child’s family functioning including successful discharge, successful discharge by level of care, restrictiveness of discharge environment, behavioral improvements over the course of treatment, and client functioning at discharge. The results of this study once again provide evidence that children from low functioning families should be identified at the time of referral (the “Hidden Figures”) and that they do better when placed in higher level, more intensive programs. Additionally, the probability of a successful discharge increases if family functioning can be improved over the course of treatment. Overall, these data provide further evidence that suggests improving family functioning is a key ingredient for improving children’s mental health.

中文翻译：

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隐藏的数字：改善家庭功能对于改善严重精神疾病儿童的治疗结果是否是关键？

摘要住院治疗通常只适用于患有严重精神健康问题的儿童。先前的研究已经确定了安置在寄养机构的儿童中，更好的家庭功能和积极的治疗结果之间的关联。这项研究试图通过检查位于印第安纳州的美国18,046名接受住院治疗计划的儿童和青少年的结局，来复制和扩展这些发现。如预期的，再次发现许多治疗结果与孩子的家庭功能水平高度相关，包括成功出院，按护理水平成功出院，出院环境的限制，治疗过程中行为的改善以及出院时服务对象的功能。这项研究的结果再次提供了证据，证明在转诊时应识别出功能低下的家庭的孩子（“隐藏的数字”），并且将他们放在更高层次，更密集的项目中会做得更好。另外，如果可以在治疗过程中改善家庭功能，则成功出院的可能性会增加。总体而言，这些数据提供了进一步的证据，表明改善家庭功能是改善儿童心理健康的关键因素。如果在治疗过程中可以改善家庭功能，则成功出院的可能性会增加。总体而言，这些数据提供了进一步的证据，表明改善家庭功能是改善儿童心理健康的关键因素。如果在治疗过程中可以改善家庭功能，则成功出院的可能性会增加。总体而言，这些数据提供了进一步的证据，表明改善家庭功能是改善儿童心理健康的关键因素。