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The Effect of Waiting Time on Youth Engagement to Evidence Based Treatments

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Abstract

Prolonged waiting times to receive mental health services are common and may have negative consequences. This study examines the relationship between waiting time and treatment engagement among 2,054 youth referred to an evidence based treatment (EBT). Findings indicate that families are more likely to refuse services if they face longer waiting times. Families exposed to a prolonged waiting time were also more likely to drop out prematurely from Functional Family Therapy, but this relationship was not significant among youth receiving Multisystemic Therapy. Implications for EBT implementation and strategies for engaging families are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding support from Maryland’s Governor’s Office for Children and input from the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 737 West Lombard Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    Anna M. L. Westin, Crystal L. Barksdale & Sharon H. Stephan

  2. SRA International, Inc., 6003 Executive Blvd., Suite 400, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA

    Crystal L. Barksdale

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA

    Anna M. L. Westin

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  1. Anna M. L. Westin
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  2. Crystal L. Barksdale
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  3. Sharon H. Stephan
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Correspondence to Anna M. L. Westin.

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Westin, A.M.L., Barksdale, C.L. & Stephan, S.H. The Effect of Waiting Time on Youth Engagement to Evidence Based Treatments. Community Ment Health J 50, 221–228 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-012-9585-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-012-9585-z

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