Year: 2002 Source: American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, v.72, no.2, (April 2002), p.250-261 SIEC No: 20090614

Cluster analysis was used to identify groups of children & adolescents with severe emotional disturbances on the basis of 8 child risk factor questions gathered at intake. The sample of 171 youth was divided into 5 clusters: physically abused, suicide attempt risk, delinquent risk, low risk, & sexually abused. Differences were noted among clusters on a variety of measures of functioning & cluster groups were different in terms of diagnosis & demographic variables. Youths in the suicide attempt & delinquent clusters demonstrated lower functioning on various measures, with the suicide attempt risk cluster yielding the poorest functioning. Cluster analysis may be a useful supplement in identifying meaningful subgroups of youth. (43 refs.)