Oruche, Ukamaka M.Gerkensmeyer, Janis E.Carpenter, Janet S.Austin, Joan K.Perkins, Susan M.Wright, Eric R2013-10-022013-10-022013-08Oruche, U. M., Gerkensmeyer, J. E., Carpenter, J. S., Austin, J. K., Perkins, S. M., Rawl, S. M., & Wright, E. R. (2013). Predicting Outcomes Among Adolescents With Disruptive Disorders Being Treated in a System of Care Program. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.https://hdl.handle.net/1805/3596BACKGROUND: “Systems of care” are strengths-based approaches to treating adolescents and others with disruptive disorders. However, little is known about why some adolescents improve and others do not. OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in personal strengths and family functioning as predictors of behavioral and social functioning among adolescents with disruptive disorders who participated in a system of care program. DESIGN: Secondary analyses of data from 114 adolescents (12-17 years of age) with disruptive disorders and their caregivers who participated in the Dawn Project Evaluation Study. Caregivers completed in-depth interviews conducted by trained data collectors using standardized questionnaires. Baseline and 12- month data are reported here. RESULTS: Improvement in personal strengths was a significant predictor of improvement in adolescent behavioral and social functioning, controlling for demographics (p < .001). CONCLUSION: In adolescents with disruptive disorders, psychiatric nurses should focus on enhancing adolescents’ personal strengths to improve behavioral and social functioning.en-USadolescents/adolescencecommunity mental health servicesfamilies of the mentally illservice delivery systemschronic mental illnessArticle