What does getting better mean? Child improvement and measure of outcome in residential treatment.

A single-sample, within-subject descriptive study was completed to ascertain individual subject characteristics associated with outcome for 87 youths discharged from a residential treatment facility. Two different methods of assessing outcome were also compared. Variables assessing a history of abuse and internalizing psychopathology at admission to residential care were associated with outcome. Low levels of staff agreement were found on the 2 outcome measures. Implications for acute residential care are discussed.