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The Impact of Mental Health Treatment Intensity on the Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Youth in a Residential Treatment Facility

Abstract This study focused on the growing number of juvenile delinquents who enter the juvenile justice system presenting severe mental health issues that often go undetected by juvenile justice professionals. The sample consisted of 163 court ordered juvenile delinquents at a residential treatment facility in northwestern Pennsylvania. The sample was required to complete two surveys in an attempt to measure presenting mental health symptoms, emotional, and behavioral problems while at the facility, mental health service intensity, and severity of prior delinquent behaviors. This study is intended to examine the impact treatment intensity had on the emotional and behavioral problems the delinquent experiences while at the facility controlling for presenting mental health issues and severity of prior delinquent activity. The results show a not significant relationship between treatment intensity and emotional problems while at the facility. However, greater service intensity was related to the amount of behavioral problems the youth experiences while at the facility. Severity of prior delinquent activity and presenting mental health issues are strong predictors of increased behavioral problems while at the facility, while high levels of mental health symptoms can predict elevated emotional problems.