How parent-teen communication affects psychiatric treatment outcomes

Researchers want to understand whether how well parents and teenagers communicate with each other affects how much teenagers improve during psychiatric treatment. The study will follow about 60 teenagers (ages 14–17) who are being admitted to a psychiatric hospital. You and your parent or guardian will answer questions about your communication at the start of hospitalization and again 6 months later, so researchers can see if better communication is linked to better recovery.

Many teens struggle with depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, but doctors don't always know which teens will benefit most from treatment. This research explores whether family communication is one key piece that predicts treatment success—information that could help doctors support families more effectively.