Department of Psychology, Colvard Building, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2012 Jan;82(1):121-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-0025.2011.01131.x.
MeckCARES, a system of care (SOC) in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, is designed to serve youth with severe emotional disturbances and their families. This study employed latent growth curve (LGC) modeling to examine (a) the degree to which youth improved on indicators of adjustment over the course of the first year of enrollment in MeckCARES, and (b) the services or demographic variables associated with individual differences in the rate of change over time. Participant caregivers (N = 121) reported on 3 major indicators of youth adjustment at baseline, 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up. Primary analyses indicated that there was a modest yet significant improvement in all 3 outcome measures over the first year of enrollment in MeckCARES. Additional analyses revealed that caregiver reports of receiving case management at any point in the first year were associated with improvement in behavioral and emotional strengths as well as a reduction in psychological and behavioral symptoms. No significant differences in rate of change were observed based on caregiver-reported receipt of individual or family therapy nor any demographic variables. These findings suggest that MeckCARES may be particularly effective when youth are receiving case management services. Additional implications for practice are discussed.
梅克卡尔斯（MeckCARES）是北卡罗来纳州梅克伦堡县的一种照护系统（SOC），旨在为患有严重情绪障碍的青少年及其家庭提供服务。本研究采用潜在增长曲线（LGC）模型，考察了（a）在参加 MeckCARES 的第一年中，青少年在调整指标上的改善程度，以及（b）与随时间变化的个体差异率相关的服务或人口统计学变量。参与者的照顾者（N=121）在基线、6 个月随访和 12 个月随访时报告了 3 项主要的青少年调整指标。主要分析表明，在参加 MeckCARES 的第一年中，所有 3 项结果指标都有适度但显著的改善。进一步的分析表明，在第一年中的任何时候，照顾者报告接受个案管理都与行为和情绪优势的改善以及心理和行为症状的减少有关。根据照顾者报告的接受个人或家庭治疗的情况，以及任何人口统计学变量，都没有观察到变化率的显著差异。这些发现表明，当青少年接受个案管理服务时，MeckCARES 可能特别有效。讨论了对实践的其他影响。
