Effective transition from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult services is one of the main challenges currently facing child psychiatry today

The Young Adult 1Programme (YAP) based at St. Patrick’s University Hospital Dublin, is a group based day programme especially designed to meet the needs of younger people aged 18–25 and support them through this difficult period.

To examine the effectiveness of participation in YAP for young adults with mental illness. To determine whether participation in particular aspects of the programme prove more beneficial and what factors might be associated with outcome.

All patients enrolled in YAP between 1 September 2011 and 31 August 2012 were included in the study. Each patient was assessed using the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HONOS) and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) rating scale before beginning the programme and after discharge in order to evaluate improvement. The frequency of attendance at individual group sessions was recorded. Patient and illness variables were also recorded, for example demographics, diagnosis.

A total of 101 service users were in enrolled in YAP during this 12-month period. Eight service users could not be used for analysis, as they did not have a complete data set, mostly due to failure to attend for discharge HONOS/GAF ratings

Using a paired sample t-test, there is a significant reduction in HONOS: Mean df=1.3, s.d.=1.09 (95% CI=1.08–1.53), p<0.001

Using a paired sample t-test, there is a significant increase in GAF: Mean df=9.25, s.d.=7.69 (95% CI=7.66–10.83), p<0.001

Improvements in HONOS and GAF scores are significantly correlated with better attendance at the programme (p<0.04, <0.00 respectively).

More attendance at YAP sessions correlates with better improvement in both HONOS and GAF rating scores.

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate a 12-session group-based motivational intervention for substance misusers in a prison setting. The intervention aimed to increase both participants awareness of problem substance use and motivation to change their substance use behaviour.

Participants were recruited for the intervention through active outreach in the prison. Participants of the intervention group completed a structured interview before the group commencing and standardised pre- and post-outcome measures. The results of the intervention group (n=31) were compared with a waiting list control group (n=11).

Non-parametric analysis showed retention rates on this programme at 2, 4 and 6 weeks were 88%, 79% and 76%, respectively. Outcome data were consistent with the predicted direction for the treatment group compared with the wait-list control with significant between-group differences found on ambivalence and taking steps scores.

This group-based intervention demonstrated positive levels of client engagement and retention. The intervention was also successful in reducing participant ambivalence about their drug use. Implications for service provision are discussed and design limitations of the present study are considered. Overall, findings indicate the potential utility of a group-based motivational intervention for substance misusers in forensic settings.