Residential treatment of disturbed children and adequacy of their subsequent adjustment: a follow-up study.

To study residential treatment outcome, a follow-up questionnaire sent to families of former child patients was used to assign them to categories of "good", "fair," or "poor" overall adjustment. The three groups were compared on variables such as presenting symptoms, duration of psychotherapy, amount of drug therapy, and prognosis on discharge; several therapist variables were also studied. Findings, some unexpected, are discussed.