Brief Summary:
This study examined age-specific patterns in the mental health service utilization and treatment discharge outcomes among military-connected children and adolescents. Electronic health records from 1,198 children (aged 2-12) and 1,048 adolescents (aged 13-17) who sought treatment were used to determine the number of therapy sessions attended, mental health diagnoses (i.e., adjustment disorder, neurodevelopmental disorder, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], acute stress, and conduct disorder), treatment discharge outcomes (i.e., positive/successful, negative/unsuccessful), and demographics (e.g., race, sex, insurance status). Overall, the rates of mental health diagnoses, treatment discharge outcomes, and factors leading to a positive discharge outcome differed between children and adolescents.
Summary provided by Military REACH at Auburn University
Translating Research Into Practice (TRIP) Report:
Created by our partners at Military REACH at Auburn University, TRIP Reports summarize the key findings and implications of this study to provide actionable insights in accessible language for practitioners, policy makers, and families.
Reference:
Kim, S., Sullivan, K. S., Wortham, W., Huang, Y., Zhang, F., Lancaster, S. L., & Linkh, D. J. (2025). Understanding factors associated with mental health treatment discharge outcomes among military-connected children and adolescents. Children and Youth Services Review, 179, Article 108591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108591