Abstract
Investigating Family-Based Alternatives to Institution-Based Mental Health Services for Youth: Lessons Learned From the Pilot Study of a Randomized Field Trial
Henggeler S W~~Rowland M D~~et al
This article describes initial barriers experienced during the pilot study of a randomized trial, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, conducted in a field setting, & the strategies used to overcome these barriers. The randomized trial examined home-based multisystemic therapy as an alternative to the psychiatric hospitalization of youths presenting psychiatric emergencies. The pilot study illuminated the interface of treatment & services research issues, prompting significant changes in the project’s clinical procedures, organization, & supervisory processes, as well as in the project’s interface with existing community resources for serving youths with serious emotional disturbances. (19 refs.)