Short and Long Term Effects of Inpatient Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Adolescents With Anxious Depressed School Absenteeism: A Within Subject Comparison of Changes
The effects of inpatient treatment, including manual guided cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) were examined for 36 adolescents (12 18 years) with chronic school absenteeism and mental health problems. Using a within subject control group design, no changes were noted during the untreated waiting period, whereas there was a strong, statistically significant reduction in school absence rates and mental health problems from the start to the end of inpatient treatment. At discharge, 88.9% of adolescents attended school regularly or were employed (86.1 and 63.9% at 2 and 9 months follow up, respectively) Self and parent reported mental health problems were significantly reduced during treatment and remained stable during follow up.