Intensive Outpatient Program, or IOP, can be a good option if your teen is emotionally struggling. The rates of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation is higher than most people know. If weekly therapy hasn’t been helping, then a possible good next step to consider is an IOP.
What is an Intensive Outpatient Program?
An IOP is a structured treatment program designed for individuals who need a higher level of care than traditional outpatient therapy, but also do not require the higher level of supervision received in a residential facility. IOP’s help all mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or a combination of both.
The client would continue to live at home and would go to a facility or office. The typical commitment is 4-5 days per week and 3-5 hours per day, and for 8-12 weeks.
Although this commitment seems like a lot, there are many styles of programs and individual circumstances that give flexibility. IOP’s will typically allow individuals to continue their daily activities such as work, school or family responsibilities while attending treatment sessions. While providing flexibility, it is very important to provide structure and accountability.
The therapeutic modalities usually include individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, educational sessions, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and other evidence-based practices.
The goal is for the client to attend an intense, focused and clinical environment and community. Because it is not a residential or inpatient facility, flexibility for continued responsibilities of life are encouraged. A client will have the benefits of an inpatient program with the flexibility of living at home and continued work or school.
Sometimes this is still too much of the “old” environment for the client to allow the change needed for themselves. If so, then a short-term inpatient programs would be the next step to explore.
Statistics about teen outpatient treatment programs
Per the World Health Organization, depression, anxiety and other mental health issues are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents and young adults.
Per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (CDC, 2023):
- Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens and young adults. 22% of high school students reported having seriously considered suicide in the past year.
- 10% of high school students attempted suicide in the past year.
- Among adolescents aged 12 to 17 in 2022, 13.4 percent (or 3.4 million people) had serious thoughts of suicide, 6.5 percent (or 1.7 million people) made a suicide plan, and 3.7 percent (or 953,000 people) attempted suicide in the past year. However, these estimates are likely to be conservative because the questions for respondents aged 12 to 17 included the response options “I’m not sure” and “I don’t want to answer,” which were not included in the corresponding questions for adults. (SAMHSA, 2023).
- One in seven children ages 10 to 18 years will experience a mental health challenge of which needs clinical support.
How effective is an intensive outpatient program for teens?
The majority of patients completed the IOP (81.0%; average of nine sessions). Over 95% of teens and parents responded that they were mostly satisfied with the IOP. The condition of patients improved at the time of discharge on depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation and behavior. 286 of the 364 youth (78.6%) completed the six-month follow-up. In total, 8.7% of these 286 respondents reported a suicide attempt and event within six months of discharge from the IOP.
Conclusion being, while limited by the lack of a control group, our findings suggest that an IOP for adolescents with suicidality is acceptable and feasible as either a step-down from or an alternative to inpatient treatment. (NIH)
Common Issues Treated in IOPs:
- Substance use disorders (alcohol, drugs, prescription drugs)
- Depression and anxiety disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Eating disorders
- PTSD and trauma-related disorders
- Obsessive Compulsive disorders
Reasons to consider an IOP:
- More affordable than an inpatient program.
- Provides intensive treatment without disrupting daily life.
- Helps maintain connections with family and community.
- Offers a high level of support and structure.
- Those with caregiving responsibilities can participate in treatment without needing to arrange full-time care for their loved ones.
- Step-Down Care: For individuals coming out of inpatient treatment, an IOP provides a gradual transition back to daily life. It offers ongoing support and structure to help prevent relapse and maintain progress.
- Continued Support: IOPs help individuals continue their recovery journey with a structured program, reducing the risk of feeling overwhelmed by the sudden freedom after inpatient care.
- Insurance Coverage: Many insurance plans cover IOPs, making them an affordable option for those seeking high-quality care.
- Tailored Care: IOPs offer individualized treatment plans based on each person’s specific needs, including the frequency and types of therapy sessions.
- Ongoing Monitoring: Regular check-ins with therapists and counselors help to catch early signs of relapse and provide immediate support.
- Can clinically support many ranges and diagnoses of mental health conditions.
We help guide, support and navigate through the many mental health treatment options for children, adolescents and young adults. For a complimentary discovery contact Rae Guyer, your therapeutic consultant.
© Therapeutic Educational Consulting
Written by Rae Guyer | LinkedIn
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