Feasibility and Acceptability of Ecological Momentary Assessment with High-Risk Suicidal Adolescents Following Acute Psychiatric Care.

Objective: The study purpose was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of intensive ecological momentary assessment (EMA) among high-risk adolescents with suicidal thoughts and behaviors following discharge from acute psychiatric care.Method: Fifty-three adolescents, 12-18 years old, and their parents, were recruited following discharge from acute psychiatric care for suicide risk. The study included a baseline assessment (adolescent and parent), 28 days of EMA surveys (5x per day) and wrist actigraphy (adolescent), and an interview at the end of the 28-day monitoring period (adolescent). Adolescents' outpatient clinicians were also surveyed about the study.Results: Study feasibility was indicated by a reasonable enrollment rate, high adherence to wearing the actigraphy device, and good adherence to EMA surveys (highest in the first week with significant drop-off in subsequent weeks). Adolescents reported their overall experience in the study was positive, the questions were understandable, their responses to questions were generally accurate, and the surveys were minimally burdensome. The study procedures did not appear to be iatrogenic; suicide attempts and rehospitalizations were not study related and occurred at a rate comparable to other adolescents at the recruitment site. Adolescents' clinicians reported that the study was somewhat positive and minimally burdensome for them, and somewhat positive for their patients and families.Conclusions: This study demonstrated that intensive EMA designs are feasible and acceptable among high-risk suicidal youth following acute psychiatric care. Specific procedures are provided for keeping adolescents safe during intensive EMA studies, including detailed information about the risk and safety monitoring plan.

Mindfulness-based group therapy: Impact on psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents.

The practice of mindfulness has long been incorporated into psychotherapy. Research on the therapeutic benefits of mindfulness exists within adult populations, and emerging empirical evidence demonstrates the benefit of such practices in the treatment of adolescents in both clinical and non-clinical settings. However, there are extremely limited data on the practice of mindfulness with adolescents in a psychiatric hospital. The iMatter ( Improve Mindful ATTention, Enhance Relaxation) group is a manualized program developed to provide adolescents on a short-term psychiatric inpatient unit with an opportunity to learn and practice relaxation strategies, mindfulness exercises, and simple yoga poses. Mindfulness skills are taught in the context of the group and include self-observation of thoughts and feelings, breathing exercises, self-validation of one's experience, loving-kindness toward self, non-judgmental stance toward self, and acceptance and observation of change within self. Participants included 65 adolescents aged 13-17 years ( M = 15.06, standard deviation ( SD) = 1.34) who took part in at least one session of the iMatter intervention. Improvements in self-reported mood were evident following participation in a mindfulness group. Also, participants' heart rate significantly decreased following participation in two groups. Future directions include improved integration of mindfulness into the milieu and other unit programming. Furthermore, comparing self-reported mood and physiological measures from this sample to findings obtained for other unit groups will further clarify the impact of the iMatter intervention.

Impact of pediatric mental health screening on clinical discussion and referral for services.

OBJECTIVE: This study discusses the impact of mental health screening in pediatric primary care on the management of mental health concerns. METHODS: Youth aged 11 years and their parents completed the Pediatric Symptom Checklist and chart reviews were used to gather information about discussion of mental health concerns and connection with mental health services. The study design was a post-intervention study with a concurrent comparison group of youth aged 12 years who were not offered a screening. The χ(2) or Fisher's exact tests and logistic regression were used to compare groups on outcome variables. RESULTS: Parents who completed a mental health screening for their child were more likely to be referred and attend mental health services, attend a psychiatrist appointment, and discuss their concerns with the primary care provider compared with the comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: Screening by parents improves detection of problems and fosters conversations with providers and subsequent connection with services.

Testing the theoretical framework of the COPE program for mothers of critically ill children: an integrative model of young children's post-hospital adjustment behaviors.

OBJECTIVE: To test a theoretical model examining processes through which a parent-focused educational-behavioral intervention [Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment (COPE)] relates to children's post-hospital adjustment problems. METHODS: Mothers (n = 143) and their 2-7-year-old children, unexpectedly hospitalized in two pediatric intensive care units, were randomized to COPE or control conditions. Maternal measures included parental beliefs, anxiety, negative mood, and child adjustment 3 months post discharge. Observers rated maternal support of their children during hospitalization. RESULTS: Structural equation modeling suggested that the model tested provided a reasonable fit to the data [chi2 (97 df) = 129.43; p = .016; root mean square error of approximation = .048; comparative fit index = .95]. COPE effects on children's post-hospital externalizing behaviors were indirect, via associations with parental beliefs and maternal negative mood state. Furthermore, COPE participation was associated with more maternal support of their children, which was also associated with less internalizing and externalizing behaviors 3 months post discharge. CONCLUSION: Implementing COPE may help avert future mental health problems in this high risk population. Understanding the processes by which an already empirically validated program relates to child outcomes is likely to aid clinicians and administrators in the widespread uptake of the COPE program.