![[PDF]](/pb-assets/Icons/adobe-pdf-icon-1498649896243.png){kind=icon}
Abstract
Over the last decade, wilderness therapy research has increased substantially in both quality and quantity and has begun to establish a base of evidence and literature. However, there is still much to be learned about the clients served and their clinical profile. The authors examined diagnostic data from discharge summaries of 929 clients (192 young adults and 737 adolescents) who enrolled in wilderness therapy at four sites across the nation. We explored trends and differences in primary diagnosis and overall prevalence of disorders according to gender and age. Central themes emerged such as the pervasiveness of substance issues, the overwhelming impact of Mood Disorders, and the clinical complexity of wilderness therapy clients. How these findings fit in with industry trends are discussed, as well as the conceptualization of behavioral issues from adolescent to adult populations, variances between adults and adolescents, and gender differences.
References
Section:
|
American Psychiatric Association . (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Baker, A. J., Archer, M., Curtis, P. A. (2005). Age and gender differences in emotional and behavioral problems during the transition to residential treatment: The Odyssey Project. International Journal of Social Work, 14, 184-194. Google Scholar | |
|
Behrens, E. N., Santa, J., Gass, M. (2010). The evidence base for private therapeutic schools, residential programs and wilderness therapy programs. Journal of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, 4(1), 106-117. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Behrens, E. N., Satterfield, K. M. (2007). Longitudinal family and academic outcomes in residential programs: How students function in two important areas of their lives. Journal of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, 2(1), 81-94. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Bettman, J. E., Jasperson, R. A. (2009). Adolescents in residential and inpatient treatment: A review of the outcome literature. Child Youth Care Forum, 38, 161-183. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Casey, R. J., Berman, J. S. (1985). The outcome of psychotherapy with children. Psychological Bulletin, 98, 388-400. Google Scholar | Crossref | Medline | ISI | |
|
Connor, D. F., Doerfler, L. A., Toscano, P. F., Volungis, A. M., Steingard, R. J. (2004). Characteristics of children and adolescents admitted to a residential treatment center. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 13, 497-510. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Dagley, J. C., Gazda, G. M., Eppinger, S. J., Stewart, E. A. (1994). Group psychotherapy research with children, preadolescents, and adolescents. In Fuhriman, A., Burlingame, G. M. (Eds.), Handbook of group psychotherapy (pp. 340-369). New York, NY: John Wiley. Google Scholar | |
|
Drais-Parrillo, A. A., Baker, A., Fojas, S., Gunn, S., Kurkland, D., Schnur, E. (2004). The Odyssey Project: A descriptive and prospective study of children and youth in residential group care and therapeutic foster care (Final Report). Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America. Google Scholar | |
|
Gass, M. A., Gillis, H. L., Russell, K. C. (2012). Adventure therapy: Theory, practice, & research. New York, NY: Routledge. Google Scholar | |
|
Hoag, M. J., Burlingame, G. M., Reedy, B., Parsons, P., Hallows, G. (1999, May). The efficacy of wilderness therapy: Analysis of change using the Y-OQ. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Irvine, CA. Google Scholar | |
|
Hoag, M. J., Massey, K. E., Roberts, S., Logan, P., Poppleton, L. (2011, September). What changes in wilderness therapy: Moving beyond outcome. Paper presented at the meeting of the Utah Regional National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Journals, Provo, UT. Google Scholar | |
|
Hoag, M. J., Savicki, K., Burlingame, G. M. (August, 2001). The efficacy of wilderness therapy: Individual and familial aspects of change. Paper presented as part of a symposium conducted at the American Psychological Association Convention, San Francisco, CA. Google Scholar | |
|
Hooper, S. R., Murphy, J., Devaney, A., Hultman, T. (2000). Ecological outcomes of adolescents in psychoeducational residential treatment facility. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 70, 491-500. Google Scholar | Crossref | Medline | ISI | |
|
IBM Corp . (2012). IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows (Version 21.0). Armonk, NY: Author. Google Scholar | |
|
Kazdin, A. E. (2000). Psychotherapy for children and adolescents: Directions for research and practice. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Kazdin, A. E. (2004). Psychotherapy for children and adolescents. In Lambert, M. J. (Ed.), Bergin and Garfield’s handbook of psychotherapy and change (5th ed., pp. 543-589). New York, NY: John Wiley. Google Scholar | |
|
Kazdin, A. E., Siegel, T. C., Bass, D. (1990). Drawing on clinical practice to inform research on child and adolescent psychotherapy: A survey of practitioners. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 21, 189-198. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Koplewicz, H. (2008). More than moody. New York, NY: G. P. Putnam’s Sons. Google Scholar | |
|
Lazerle, R. E., Dinges, K., Schmidt, M. D., Spellman, D. F., Criste, T. R., Connell, P. (2001). Outcomes of residential treatment: A study of the adolescent clients of girls and boys town. Child & Youth Forum, 30, 175-185. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Leadbeater, B., Thompson, K., Grupposo, V. (2012). Co-occurring trajectories of symptoms of anxiety, depression, and oppositional defiance from adolescence to young adulthood. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 41, 719-730. Google Scholar | Crossref | Medline | ISI | |
|
Lyons, J. S., Terry, P., Martinovich, Z., Peterson, J., Bouska, B. (2001). Outcome trajectories for adolescents in residential treatment: A statewide evaluation. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 10, 333-345. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Magle-Haberek, N. A., Tucker, A. R., Gass, M. A. (2012). Effects of program differences with wilderness therapy and residential treatment center (RTC) programs. Residential Treatment for Children & Youth, 29, 202-218. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Marchand, G. (2008). Challenges affecting field instructors in wilderness therapy. Journal of Experiential Education, 30, 286-289. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Russell, K. C. (2001). What is wilderness therapy? Journal of Experiential Education, 24, 70-79. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Russell, K. C. (2003a). Assessment treatment outcomes in outdoor behavioral healthcare using the Youth Outcome Questionnaire. Child & Youth Care Forum, 32, 355-381. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Russell, K. C. (2003b). A nation-wide survey of outdoor behavioral healthcare programs for adolescents with problem behaviors. Journal of Experiential Education, 25, 322-331. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Russell, K. C. (2005). Two years later: A qualitative assessment of youth well-being and the role of aftercare in outdoor behavioral healthcare treatment. Child & Youth Care Forum, 34, 209-239. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Russell, K. C. (2007). Summary of research in the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Research Cooperative from 1999-2006 (Technical Report 2). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota. Google Scholar | |
|
Russell, K. C., Gillis, H. L. (2010). Experiential therapy in the mental health treatment of adolescents. Journal of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, 4(1), 48-75. Google Scholar | |
|
Russell, K. C., Gillis, H. L., Lewis, T. G. (2008). A five-year follow up of a nationwide survey of outdoor behavioral healthcare program. Journal of Experiential Education, 31, 55-77. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Scott, D. A., Duerson, L. M. (2009). Continuing the discussion: A commentary on “Wilderness therapy”: Ethical considerations for mental health professionals. Child Youth Care Forum, 39, 63-68. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Tramonta, M. G. (1980). Critical review of research on psychotherapy outcome with adolescents: 1967-1977. Psychological Bulletin, 88, 429-450. Google Scholar | Crossref | Medline | ISI | |
|
Weisz, J. R., Weiss, B., Han, S. S., Granger, D. A., Morton, T. (1995). Effects of psychotherapy with children and adolescents revisited: A meta-analysis of treatment outcome studies. Psychological Bulletin, 117, 450-468. Google Scholar | Crossref | Medline | ISI | |
|
Young, M. C., Gass, M. (2010). Preliminary data from the NATSAP research and evaluation network: Client characteristics at admission. Journal of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, 4(1), 80-105. Google Scholar | Crossref |
