The Pilot Study "Home Treatment in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry" Aims to Evaluate the Effectiveness of a 3-month Home-based Intervention as an Alternative to an Inpatient Stay at a Psychiatric Clinic. Participants Are Children and Adolescents With Current Psychiatric Conditions.

Pilot Study: Home Treatment in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

This study investigates the effectiveness of an intervention for children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders. The core concept is the provision of treatment in the patient's home environment as an alternative to, and substitute for, inpatient psychiatric care. Patients receive between 3 and 7 treatment sessions per week over a period of 3 months. A multidisciplinary team-comprising a physician, psychologist, social worker, occupational therapist, dietitian, and educational specialist-delivers assessments and interventions on site. Participation in the program is offered as a voluntary alternative to hospitalization.

The study is designed as a single-arm pragmatic trial. The primary outcome is the change in clinical symptom severity and psychosocial functioning, as assessed by the study physician. A follow-up assessment will be conducted after 6 months to evaluate long-term effectiveness.

In addition to the primary outcome, both patients and their legal guardians provide self-reports on psychosocial functional impairment. Changes in functional impairment constitute the secondary outcome.

For comparative purposes, outcomes will be contrasted with a historical control group consisting of inpatient participants.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Sufficient proficiency in the German language
• Age between 6 and 18 years
• Residence within approximately a 30-minute driving distance from the hospital
• Willingness and ability of patient and caregivers to comply with treatment appointments
• Clinical indication for psychiatric treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Immediate threats to the child's safety or well-being in the home environment
• Current risk of harm to self or others
• Current violent behavior
• Inability of patient or caregivers to adhere to treatment appointments
• Lack of motivation or insufficient engagement leading to inability to participate in treatment
• No exclusion based on specific psychiatric diagnoses