Factors affecting improvement of children and adolescents who were treated in the child and adolescent psychiatry inpatient unit

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the correlates and predictors of improvement in general functioning of children and adolescents who are treated in the child and adolescent psychiatry (CAMHS) inpatient unit. METHODS: Hospital records of 308 children and adolescents who were treated for at least 1 month in the CAMHS inpatient unit from 2005–2016 were included. Associations with individual, familial, and clinical variables and the difference in Children’s Global Assessment Scale (ΔCGAS) scores at admission and discharge were evaluated. RESULTS: Positive predictors of ΔCGAS were older age and lower CGAS scores at admission, whereas high familial risk scores at admission and diagnosis of early-onset schizophrenia negatively predicted ΔCGAS (B = 0.698, p = 0002; B = −0.620, p < 0.001; B = −0.842, p = 0.002; B =−9.184, p = 0.000, respectively). Familial risk scores were significantly and negatively correlated with ΔCGAS (p = 0.004, Spearman’s rho = −0.2). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that improvement in general functioning during inpatient treatment in CAMHS is better at an older age and with lower general functioning at admission. However, high familial risks and diagnosis of early-onset schizophrenia weakens this improvement.