Reduction in Restraint and Critical Incidents in a Norwegian Residential Treatment Facility for Children Aged 7–13 Following the Implementation of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics

In child and adolescent inpatient, residential and day-treatment facilities, the use of physical restraints and the occurrence of critical incidents are a significant problem. Restraints may sometimes be necessary if a child exhibits dangerous aggressive behavior, but may also be misused or overused...

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Main Authors: Ann-Karin Nielsen Bakken, Kaja Næss Johannessen, Erin P. Hambrick, Ole André Solbakken
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Youth
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/4/4/101
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author Ann-Karin Nielsen Bakken
Kaja Næss Johannessen
Erin P. Hambrick
Ole André Solbakken
author_facet Ann-Karin Nielsen Bakken
Kaja Næss Johannessen
Erin P. Hambrick
Ole André Solbakken
author_sort Ann-Karin Nielsen Bakken
collection DOAJ
description In child and adolescent inpatient, residential and day-treatment facilities, the use of physical restraints and the occurrence of critical incidents are a significant problem. Restraints may sometimes be necessary if a child exhibits dangerous aggressive behavior, but may also be misused or overused, and have been shown to be preventable in many cases. This study aims to investigate if the implementation of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) has an effect on the annual number of physical restraint incidents in a residential treatment facility for children with complex mental health disorders. Data before and after NMT implementation were collected from the agency’s restraint records. The results showed that post-NMT implementation, there was a substantial and sustained reduction in restraint incidents, with a Cohen’s d value of 2.03, indicating a very large effect. Limiting restraint use in treating children with complex mental health disorders can foster a safer and more therapeutic environment, with potential improvements in treatment outcomes. This study demonstrated a substantial drop in restraint incidents following the implementation of the Neurosequential Model in a residential facility for children aged 7–13. This reduction is presumably pivotal for children with complex mental health disorders, making treatment less coercive and offering promise for settings in which restraint incidents are a concern.
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spelling doaj-art-da666edbb4234e71a047df1086ab77f42025-08-20T02:56:58ZengMDPI AGYouth2673-995X2024-11-01441582159010.3390/youth4040101Reduction in Restraint and Critical Incidents in a Norwegian Residential Treatment Facility for Children Aged 7–13 Following the Implementation of the Neurosequential Model of TherapeuticsAnn-Karin Nielsen Bakken0Kaja Næss Johannessen1Erin P. Hambrick2Ole André Solbakken3SNU Senter for Nevrobiologisk Utviklingspsykologi, Dalbekkveien 46, 0682 Oslo, NorwaySNU Senter for Nevrobiologisk Utviklingspsykologi, Dalbekkveien 46, 0682 Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Psychology and Counseling, University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO 64110, USADepartment of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0313 Oslo, NorwayIn child and adolescent inpatient, residential and day-treatment facilities, the use of physical restraints and the occurrence of critical incidents are a significant problem. Restraints may sometimes be necessary if a child exhibits dangerous aggressive behavior, but may also be misused or overused, and have been shown to be preventable in many cases. This study aims to investigate if the implementation of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) has an effect on the annual number of physical restraint incidents in a residential treatment facility for children with complex mental health disorders. Data before and after NMT implementation were collected from the agency’s restraint records. The results showed that post-NMT implementation, there was a substantial and sustained reduction in restraint incidents, with a Cohen’s d value of 2.03, indicating a very large effect. Limiting restraint use in treating children with complex mental health disorders can foster a safer and more therapeutic environment, with potential improvements in treatment outcomes. This study demonstrated a substantial drop in restraint incidents following the implementation of the Neurosequential Model in a residential facility for children aged 7–13. This reduction is presumably pivotal for children with complex mental health disorders, making treatment less coercive and offering promise for settings in which restraint incidents are a concern.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/4/4/101physical restraintscritical incidentschild mental healthNMTresidential treatment
spellingShingle Ann-Karin Nielsen Bakken
Kaja Næss Johannessen
Erin P. Hambrick
Ole André Solbakken
Reduction in Restraint and Critical Incidents in a Norwegian Residential Treatment Facility for Children Aged 7–13 Following the Implementation of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics
Youth
physical restraints
critical incidents
child mental health
NMT
residential treatment
title Reduction in Restraint and Critical Incidents in a Norwegian Residential Treatment Facility for Children Aged 7–13 Following the Implementation of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics
title_full Reduction in Restraint and Critical Incidents in a Norwegian Residential Treatment Facility for Children Aged 7–13 Following the Implementation of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics
title_fullStr Reduction in Restraint and Critical Incidents in a Norwegian Residential Treatment Facility for Children Aged 7–13 Following the Implementation of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics
title_full_unstemmed Reduction in Restraint and Critical Incidents in a Norwegian Residential Treatment Facility for Children Aged 7–13 Following the Implementation of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics
title_short Reduction in Restraint and Critical Incidents in a Norwegian Residential Treatment Facility for Children Aged 7–13 Following the Implementation of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics
title_sort reduction in restraint and critical incidents in a norwegian residential treatment facility for children aged 7 13 following the implementation of the neurosequential model of therapeutics
topic physical restraints
critical incidents
child mental health
NMT
residential treatment
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/4/4/101
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