Psychiatric News (1/26) reports a systematic review and meta-analysis of 48 studies found that “teenagers in acute mental health crisis who receive intensive community care services (ICCS) as an alternative to hospitalization do as well or even slightly better on several psychological, social, and clinical measures outcomes.” Researchers observed that “ICCS were associated with a small but statistically significant improvement in overall psychosocial functioning relative to usual care (Hedges’ g of 0.15), as well as slight reductions in inpatient admission days, emotional and behavioral problems, and externalizing symptoms. ICCS were comparable with usual care when it came to internalizing symptoms, family cohesion, and cost.” They noted that “when compared solely against inpatient care, ICCS remained superior at improving psychosocial functioning (Hedges’ g of 0.25); all other outcomes were comparable.” The review was published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Related Links:
— “Intensive Community Services for Teens in Crisis Found Effective Alternative to Hospitalization, Psychiatric News, January 26, 2026